A study of extensive reading (ER) with EFL Thai students at Ubon Rajathanee University

This study investigated the effects of the exposure to Extensive Reading, an approach that uses easy, varied, and personally selected texts, on the abilities in attitudes to reading English material of a group of Thai university students. Fifty-one final yaer students at a Thai regional university completed a 15 week project in which they were encouraged to read a collection of English graded readers, pre-and post-tests of reading ability, pre-and post-questionnaires about attitudes, a journal recording their completed readings, and mid-and post-project evaluations. Results of the pre-and post-tests of reading ability in English showed little change in the performances of the more able students who performed at a lower level in the pre-test improved considerably. Results of the pre- and post-questionnaires and evaluations showed an overall positive development of reading in English. The study implies Thai students' abilities in reading English, especially those whose skills are not highly developed, and the general attitudes to reading English can be improved by exposure to Extensive Reading, thus assisting thr students' performances in other academic areas requiring proficiency in English.