Narrow Reading - A tool for L2 learners !

Schmitt & Carter (2000) discuss, in their article The Lexical Advantages of Narrow Reading for Second Language Learners, the importance of reading in order to learn a language and master the various subsystems of that language. As it is literally impossible to teach every single word to language learners, developing tools and resources in order to master vocabulary is, therefore, a necessity for all students. One solution to facilitate the process is to use reading in the classroom as an essential complement of explicit teaching of vocabulary words. As mentioned in various articles of Krashen (1981, 1989), students should be exposed frequently to authentic texts and to topics which they already have a basic knowledge of. Thus, reading gradually becomes easier and acquisition of additional vocabulary words is progressively done as the student reads on the topic. Newspaper articles are an interesting way to help student acquire vocabulary. Topics are often motivating and the vocabulary is usually simple and recurrent, thus facilitating the reader’s task. Narrow reading, that is to say the process which implies reading several articles on the same topic, is a powerful tool to ease the reading. Implementing this technique to the syllabus is important. Facilitating reading helps students develop intrinsic motivation toward the task. If the task is easy but challenging, they will be more likely to try again. Another advantage of reading several texts which cover the same or closely-related topics is the recurrent presence of key [vocabulary] words.

Strategy: Describe the authors’ point of view (Response Journal Guidelines for Students)

Keven Doyon-Lacasse