Extensive Reading in Grade Ten in Oman: Current Practices, Teachers'
Perceptions and Students' Attitudes
The aims of the present study were to identify the current practices regarding the implementation of extensive reading in grade ten in public schools in Oman, to explore the teachers' perceptions about the effectiveness of using extensive reading and to find out grade ten students' attitudes towards extensive reading. The population of the study consisted of all grade ten students, grade ten teachers and the regional supervisors in Al-Dakhilyia Governorate. The study sample included 300 students, 75 teachers and 5 regional supervisors.
Five instruments were used to answer the research questions; a content analysis sheet, a survey questionnaire for the teachers, an attitude questionnaire for the students and semi-structured interviews for the teachers and supervisors. The content analysis sheet included three sections that analyzed the students! work. The teachers' questionnaire included 5-point scale items exploring their perceptions and the challenges they might find. The students' questionnaire included 5-point scale items used to identify their attitudes.
The major findings of the present study were;
1. Grade ten students do not read extensively as frequently as they are supposed
to, and most of them do not get the chance to read what they are interested in.
2. The most highly rated effects of extensive reading as perceived by the teachers were:
• ER increases students' vocabulary gain; ER exposes learners to different types of topics; ER increases students' exposure to the target language; ER leads to increased reading comprehension skill; ER enhances learners' general language competence; • ER develops students' ability to deal with unfamiliar words.
3, Students have positive attitudes towards extensive reading. The most highly rated statements were:
• ER helps students to learn new words;
ER helps students improve their writing skill; . ER broadens students' knowledge:
• ER helps develop students' reading comprehension.
4. The most frequent challenges that hinder the success of extensive reading, as
rated by teachers, were:
• Students' poor language level;
• Absence of the desire to read;
• Students asking others to help them do the tasks. Drawing upon the findings, the researcher has made recommendations for classroom practices and has provided suggestions for further research.