ABSTRACT
Learners of English as a foreign language can differ widely in their enthusiasm for reading English (Takase, 2007). A lack of enthusiasm may come from the perceived difficulty of the task. It may also come from a lack of interest in reading in general in both the first language and foreign language, although Takase found that enthusiasm for reading in one language was not necessarily mirrored by enthusiasm for reading in the other language. As Brantmeier (2005) shows, interest in reading is a complex issue and is affected by a wide range of variables. Learners’ attitudes towards extensive reading are important because extensive reading works when learners read large quantities of material. Learners are unlikely to read a lot unless they enjoy doing it and see some value in such reading.
