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Explore research and evidence. This entry explains one question; it is not a systematic review.
What is extensive reading?
Extensive reading generally means reading a substantial amount for meaning, often with material chosen for the learner's level. Programmes vary in their books, classroom support, duration and outcome measures.
Read a study as a comparison
Ask who participated, what they read, what the comparison group did and what the researchers measured. A reading test measures a particular outcome under particular conditions. It does not by itself establish that every learner will improve by the same amount.
Example for a learner
Choose a short graded story. Read it for the plot, then write a two-sentence summary. If the story is hard to follow, choose another or use a glossary. Repeat the same summary task later with a different passage; it is a personal check, not a controlled experiment.
Do not transfer results automatically
Nakanishi's meta-analysis brings together research on extensive reading. A meta-analysis combines studies, but its conclusions still depend on those studies and their outcomes. Reading results do not directly establish the effect of video, captions or this site's app.
Sources
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Cite this page
Jibber Jabber. "What can extensive reading research tell us?." What Is Comprehensible Input?, updated 2026-11-09. https://whatiscomprehensibleinput.com/reading-research/
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