The chapters in "Explorations in Second Language Reading" reveal the importance of reading in the classroom and how instructors can use reading as a bridge to improve learners' other linguistic and interpersonal skills. Most significantly, each author prompts us to rediscover how enjoyable ESOL reading can be and how it can increase learner motivation. Within this volume practitioners will find a wealth of activities and techniques for diverse classrooms: incorporating pre-, during-, and post-reading activities; constructing a themed reading curriculum; teaching texts from a culture different from that of the students; using online discussions, links, and class readings; selecting reading materials for English for academic purposes and English for specific purposes courses; using plays as interactive reading texts; and teaching the text "backwards." TESOL practitioners of all levels will find this volume beneficial whether they are planning a full curriculum, weeklong reading unit, or single-day integrated reading activity. This book contains 13 chapters. Chapters include: (1) Emphasizing Reading in the ESOL Classroom (Roger Cohen); (2) Purposeful Reading (Frank Noji, Shawn Ford, and Anthony Silva); (3) Building Reading Abilities With Graphic Organizers (Xiangying Jiang and William Grabe); (4) P4 + C: Cracking the Culture Code in "Story" (Jennifer Jabareen); (5) Reading the World in L1 and L2 (Sara Exposito and Alejandra Favela); (6) Making the Most of Literature Circles: Effective Literature Discussions for the EFL Classroom (Hadija Drummond); (7) Beggars Can Be Choosers! (Deepti Gupta); (8) Reading "Between the Lines" of Academic Texts (Shawna Shapiro); (9) Developing Pragmatic Competence for Critical Academic Reading (Roger Nunn); (10) Maximizing ESL Freshman Readers' Skills With Online Instruction (Reima Al-Jarf); (11) Designing Materials for EAP Students: A Balanced Approach to Reading (Esmat Babaii and Hasan Ansary); (12) The Play's the Thing: Using Drama for Pleasurable Reading and Genuine Communication (Natalie Hess); and (13) Teaching the Text Sdrawkcab: Moving Beyond Educational Fads (Margret M. Guntren). References and an index are included.