All Levels The Blog “Trivia for Enjoying Extensive Reading” more

Sun, Sep 7, 16:25-17:10 Asia/Tokyo

In August 2023, a volunteer group of English extensive readers in Japan launched a blog titled "Trivia for Enjoying Extensive Reading." The blog provides cultural and linguistic trivia to support Japanese readers in gaining a deeper understanding of the books they read. By offering contextual information—such as cultural backgrounds, idiomatic usage, and social references—the blog helps bridge the gap between the content of English texts and the readers’ cultural knowledge. Both teachers and learners have found that referring to the blog enhances comprehension and increases enjoyment during reading. Moreover, the blog serves not only as an informative resource but also as a tool to sustain and boost learners' motivation for extensive reading. We will showcase examples from the blog and share survey results from Japanese students and teachers who used it. Although currently available only in Japanese, the project team aims to make it available in multiple languages.