The Role of Extensive Reading in Fostering the Development of Grammar and Vocabulary Knowledge

Abstract

Reading is a complex mental process that consists of different components such as seeing, attending, perceiving, recalling, attaching meaning, synthesizing, analyzing and interpreting. Reading is therefore one of the most important steps in understanding. Training reading is considered important because it includes other basic language skills. Intensive studies are carried out in the field about training reading, how it should be done and the methods to be applied during this education process. Extensive reading has a significant role in extending language proficiency. Extensive reading is effective, in that, it leads to sufficient knowledge of vocabulary and grammar. Learners encounter new words and sentence structures very often during extensive reading; thus, they build familiarity, and multiple exposures to them facilitates learning. Extensive reading will allow learners to engage in the target language constantly that will lead them to master the patterns of the language. This study emphasizes the significance of extensive reading, and focuses on its roles in the development of grammar and vocabulary knowledge.

Keywords

• extensive reading
• comprehension
• vocabulary knowledge
• grammar knowledge