| dc.description.abstract | This paper presents the implementation of an extensive reading program in Indonesia which we named ‘Reading Date’ as our attempts as a teacher to motivate students in reading. In practice, the principles of extensive reading that highlighted reading for pleasure were combined with socio-cultures in Indonesia. These principles were realized through accommodating students' voices about what, where and with whom they read and Indonesia's socio-cultural views were reflected in the activities carried out in the groups to share the results of their reading in discussion forums. At the Reading Date, the groups of students consisting of four or five then picked the book they would like to read. Flexibility in this activity was that they could change the book when they no longer liked it in the process. For ten weeks, they met once a week to read and discuss their reading to all members in the group. At the end of the program, all groups chose one favorite book read by all members to be presented to other groups in the open mic. In closing, a guest experienced in reading was invited to tell students about the benefits of reading and how reading empowered his life to become a writer. The results of our study show that all activities such as choosing own books, reading in groups, open-mic, and guest star input sessions were things that had a positive response from the students to grow their reading interest. Therefore, the students requested the next Reading Date with some revision in the rules. | en_US |
