A Case Study of the Effects of Extensive Reading Using a Blended English Library System at an Elementary School

This study investigated the effects of extensive reading program with on-off blended library system at the school scale. The students from Grade 1 to Grade 6 of a primary school took part in the reading project, where they read books they chose from the English library and filled out the online quiz. They joined offline reading programs such as book talking, book report, or debating. Parents were given training to help their children free voluntary reading at home. The comparison of about 1,244 students’ pre- and post-reading levels and points shows that there were significant differences after the implementation of the program. The questionnaire results reveal that the majority of students, teachers and parents agreed that the blended extensive reading program has a positive effect upon learning English. The analysis of parents’ logs also support the positive effect of the extensive reading. It was found that the blended reading was conducive to free voluntary reading and self-directed learning. Some suggestions are proposed for the effective implementation of reading programs at the large scale.