We've Got Our Noses in A Book: Implementing Extensive Reading in The ESL Composition Classroom

Instruction in the English as a Second Language (ESL) composition classroom includes providing opportunities to nurture and encourage language acquisition. Students engage in written assignments, collaborative projects, class discussions, and instructor-selected readings, all with the end goal of increasing students' English language acquisition. An opportunity for extensive reading is often overlooked as a viable strategy. An extensive reading project was implemented over two semesters at a midwestern metropolitan university as part of an ESL composition course. The guiding principles and lessons learned are shared in this article to help other ESL instructors see practical ways to implement this fundamental, but sometimes difficult to implement, learning strategy.