Starting a University-Wide English Extensive Reading Program

Working together

Abstract

This paper provides an account of an English extensive reading project that was set up at a medium-sized provincial Japanese university by a working group consisting of library staff, Learning Support Center staff, and English teaching faculty. The primary focus is the story of the project, including the perspectives of the three sides of this partnership, the outcomes or achievements of the project, and the lessons learned through the first months of undertaking this extensive reading project. Recommendations relate to administrative and interpersonal issues encountered through the project, project timing, the benefits of iterations within the year of the project, and the need for greater student and student group involvement in planning extensive reading workshops and other activities as part of the project.