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Extensive reading involves learners reading texts for enjoyment and to develop general reading skills.

In general, students learning to read in English do not like reading and they rarely read. This is partly due to the way reading is approached in the language class.

Intensive reading involves learners reading in detail with specific learning aims and tasks.

In this, the first of two articles for TeachingEnglish, Alan Maley considers the benefits extensive reading can bring to English language learners and teachers.

With literacy rates for young adults now higher than at any other time - 98 to 100 per cent in nearly all European countries and rapidly increasing in the developing world - it seems incongruous that there should be so much concern that teenagers are not reading as much as they used to. And yet, it’s still a major issue in education throughout the developed world. But the concern isn’t really about whether teens can read or not, but more about what they are reading and how much.

Watch a recording of this webinar on developing extensive reading skills with Ceri Jones.

This lesson plan for teachers of teenage and adult students at intermediate level and above is based on the theme of life in the UK. Students will practise listening and reading for specific information. 

Charles Dickens was born in 1812 and the British Council has been helping to celebrate his 200th birthday. One way that we have done this is by making teaching materials which can help teachers introduce Dickens into their lessons.

An extension task is further activity around the aims of a class but after it, often as homework.