Potential of Extensive Reading as a Means of Intercultural Education: A Pilot Study
Abstract
The purpose of this paper is to investigate the potential of extensive reading (ER) as a method of intercultural education (IE). IE aims to encourage people to learn how to respond to cultural differences. Not surprisingly, language learning is considered a vital part of IE. While ER has been recognized as an effective pedagogy for language acquisition, not much research has focused on sociocultural learning through ER. This paper tries to answer what can be learned through ER for learners to prepare for intercultural communication.
For this research, a survey and a succession of interviews were implemented at a university in Japan. Those results are analyzed in reference to Intercultural Communicative Competence, which is an intended outcome of IE.
The survey results suggest ER can be an effective means of IE. Moreover, the interviews indicate ER can provide opportunities for learners to consider world history and cultures from various viewpoints.
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