Extensive Reading: An Approach to Reading Comprehension of Grade Five Pupils

Abstract

INTRODUCTION

Extensive reading, free reading, and book flood or reading for pleasure is a way of language learning, including foreign language learning, through large amounts of reading as well as facilitating acquisition and learning of vocabulary. It is believed to increase motivation through positive, affective benefits. Technology has also begun to change the role of teachers and learners. This research was conducted to find the levels of interest of the pupils in extensive reading despite innovations in modern technology. As children get older, rate of vocabulary growth increases. The author will determine their understanding of the Grade 5 pupils’ vocabulary in the text they read. Further, the researcher will attempt to find improvements, if any, on their present reading comprehension.

METHODS

The researchers used descriptive method in the research. The statistical tools used were the mean, frequency, and percentage.

RESULTS

The results of the study show that pupils' activities in extensive reading had an impact in their academic performance. During the pre-assessment, 40% of the learners play with gadgets in their home after school, 18.5% help their parents, 28.8%play outside, and only 14.8% make assignments and read. After the conduct of extensive reading programs, this improved to 67% including doing assignment. Only 11% still play with gadgets, 15% help their parents, and 7% play outside.

DISCUSSIONS

Knowing students’ reading interest will help teachers to connect them with books and other reading materials they'll enjoy. When teachers and the library share this information, classroom library connection collection can be developed to suit student's needs, abilities, and interest. There are many benefits of extensive reading in language learning. These include gains in reading and writing competence, oral, and actual skills, vocabulary growth, and increase in motivation, self-esteem, and empathy. Students who read extensively also become more autonomous learners. Students who read extensively also make gains in writing proficiency. This is because, as students encounter more language more frequently, through extensive reading, their language acquisition mechanism is primed to produce it in writing.