Narrow reading means reading in only one genre, one subject matter, or the work of one author. The case for narrow reading was first presented over twenty years ago (Krashen, 1981). Narrow reading, it was argued, has the advantage of providing the developing reader with a familiar context, that is, familiar background knowledge that helps make…

Discusses how a mother's efforts to encourage her children to read in English as a foreign language were not successful until she allowed the children to select their own reading. Concludes that self-selected reading resulted in clear improvements in attitudes toward English reading and obvious gains in English competence. (SG)

Describes how a single positive experience in self-selected reading of children's books resulted in a profound change in attitudes toward recreational reading among Korean teachers in English as a foreign language. Concludes that after the experience, nearly all teachers reported they were interested in using sustained silent reading in their…