Intensive vs. Extensive Approaches in Foreign Language Teaching

Book excerpt: The purpose of this theoretical and experimental paper is to clarify the influence of an extensive learning program on high school students' language comprehension and attitude towards reading. The experiment was administered throughout a school semester with a control group following the intensive approach and an experimental group subject to the extensive approach. The intervention of the experiment was represented by the two teaching approaches (extensive vs. intensive), whereas the measured outcome consisted in the learners’ changes in language proficiency and attitude towards reading. Since both intensive and extensive approaches are necessary in order to prepare students for college tasks, the senior high school period is an ideal moment to start introducing extensive language programs as a means of achieving and not substituting the communicative competence. Furthermore, the reading habit will outlast and accompany students as a lifelong second nature.