(This posting includes a handout LINK AT THE END OF THIS POST which you are welcome to use with your students.) *

¹ Imagine that you and your friends have just arrived at a popular restaurant.  Unfortunately, you are told by the hostess that you’ll need to wait in line for about 30 minutes to get a table because there are many other customers who had arrived before you.  After about 10 minutes, a man and woman arrive and talk to the hostess.  You notice that he secretly hands her some money.  Immediately, she takes them to a table.  Most of us would feel that this was unfair and would feel resentful toward the hostess.

² Some researchers have recently become interested in finding out if the idea of unfairness is a unique emotion only felt by people or is it also experienced by animals.  A study looked at how dogs react when a second dog is rewarded in an unequal way for doing the same trick.  The researchers shook hands with two dogs, and the dogs were happy to do that whether they got a reward or not.

³ Next, they asked the dogs to “shake hands” and gave one a reward of a tasty sausage, and the other one a boring piece of bread when they did. Interestingly, the dogs didn’t seem to notice the difference and continued to follow the command and shook hands even though one got a tastier reward than the other.  (See complete article below.)

Continue reading →

(This posting includes a handout LINK AT THE END OF THIS POST which you are welcome to use with your students.) *

What matters more when choosing a reading passage for ESL students: the vocabulary level, or how much they actually care about the topic?

The science is in, and the answer might surprise you. A group of researchers investigated what helps students remember what they read. They discovered that how interested a student is in a topic is 30 times more important than the “readability” level of the passage.

When we capture their interest, we unlock their learning.

That is the driving force behind this series of Short, High-Interest Articles for Extensive Reading. My goal is simple: to motivate students to want to read by focusing on captivating, real-world topics. Because interest trumps difficulty, these articles have been used successfully with students across many different reading-skill levels.

Where to Find Them

This post includes the first article. As of 5/25/2016, I have posted 17 articles and have a lineup of over 20 more that I’ll be sharing regularly. You can always access the growing collection in the right-hand column under:

👉 ESL Reading > Short, High-Interest Articles for Extensive Readings

Four Ways to Use These Materials

Every teacher’s classroom is different, so these articles are designed to be flexible. Here are a few ways you can integrate them:

• Pure Extensive Reading: Make them available for students who simply want to read more for pleasure.
• Quick Comprehension Check: Assign the brief True/False questions included at the end of each article.
• Skill Building: Have students complete the short Paraphrasing Exercise.
• Critical Thinking: Prompt deeper reflection with the brief Reflection Exercise at the close of the piece.

Start Reading Today!

Below is the very first article in the series. You can also download a clean, ready-to-print PDF handout for your students using the link at the bottom of this post.

For More Happiness Keep Your Good News Secret for a While

¹ You just received a letter in the mail from a college that you most hope to attend.  The letter will inform you whether or not you have been accepted. Nervously, you open the envelope. The letter begins, “It is our pleasure to inform you that you have been accepted to our college.” You smile with great happiness. Immediately, you want to share this great news with your family and best friends. But wait. To really feel this joy, research says you should keep this news to yourself for a few minutes.

Continue reading →