(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.
I discuss this posting in this video: 
Common Sense Teaching ESL 