1. introduction

Avoid Dictionaries
While dictionaries can be a necessary tool in language learning, they can also slow you down. Again, the goal of this exercise isn’t to completely understand everything you’re reading. It’s to build a general recognition of words and phrases so you can absorb the language naturally over time.
Embrace the Solitude
Classmates are great when you’re practising pronunciation, but this exercise requires a more solitary approach. Make sure your environment is free from distractions so you can focus. In your solitude, you can concentrate much easier.
Speed Read
If you find yourself straining over the small things, it defeats the purpose of the exercise. Set a pace for yourself before you start reading so you don’t turn this sprint into a marathon. This can be accomplished with a timer on your phone, or an alarm so you know when you’ve been reading for an hour. You might also find using a pointer or finger as a physical guide a useful tool. The key is to keep it fast, don’t linger on the speedbumps.
Do it Yourself
Teachers are not necessary for extensive reading. You can start this today in the comfort of your own home. However, if you find yourself in a classroom environment, try to keep this exercise separate. This method is not meant to be guided or graded.⁸
An extensive reading approach introduces students to the dynamics of reading as it is done in real life by including such key elements of real-life reading as choice and purpose. Richard Day and Julian Bamford, in their forthcoming book Extensive Reading in the Second Language Classroom identify ten characteristics found in successful extensive reading programs.
1. Students read as much as possible, perhaps in and definitely out of the classroom.
2. A variety of materials on a wide range of topics is available so as to encourage reading for different reasons and in different ways.
3. Students select what they want to read and have the freedom to stop reading material that fails to interest them.
4. The purposes of reading are usually related to pleasure, information and general understanding. These purposes are determined by the nature of the material and the interests of the student.