A practicum aimed to improve the attitudes toward recreational reading of 12 intermediate grade level English-as-a-Second-Language (ESL) students so that they would share their enthusiasm and interests in pleasure reading, as well as devote more time to reading. The writer met with parents of ESL students to discuss ways they could encourage recreational reading and school success; scheduled time for recreational reading in the classroom; developed students' interest in newspapers; encouraged students to write, edit, and read their own news of current events using a microphone; had students write their own books; and prepared a grant so that recreational reading materials would be available to the students. Results indicate that the practicum, carried out in a large city in the midwest, was very successful. Students chose recreational reading when given an option of self-selected reading or other activities. They were able to discuss what they had read and found it less difficult to read for pleasure. (An appendix contains the student questionnaire.) (SR)