At a junior and senior high school in Setagaya, Tokyo, extensive reading has been incorporated into English classes since 2004. The program lasts for six years, featuring extensive in-class reading and lending of books. In February 2025, a survey of graduates was conducted using Google Forms. A total of 156 respondents, including university students, graduate students, and working professionals, participated. The number of words read during their six school years ranged from under 300,000 to over 3 million. When the open-ended responses were coded, they could be summarized into three key concepts. Students expressed gratitude for having studied at a school with an extensive reading program and reported that it had influenced their current English learning and way of life. Reflecting on the various extensive reading activities conducted over the six years, the presentation also considers practical approaches, how to create an extensive reading environment, and instructional methods.

This presentation explores the integration of cultural narratives, such as myths, folktales, and traditional stories, into an extensive reading (ER) component for EFL learners. It focuses on the use of worldoftales.com, a free online resource, where students select stories based on their English proficiency and personal interests. The presentation will demonstrate how a student-centered approach using culturally meaningful texts can support learner autonomy and increase engagement in ER contexts. Attendees will gain practical insights into how such narratives can enrich ER programs and promote deeper cultural understanding. The session will showcase examples of classroom activities, student-selected stories, and feedback that highlight the motivational impact of using diverse cultural texts. The presentation will also share reflections on implementation and challenges, along with practical suggestions for EFL educators on how to incorporate cultural narratives into ER programs to help students expand their reading selections and explore texts from diverse cultural perspectives.

This panel discussion brings together experienced graded reader authors to explore the unique challenges of creating engaging and impactful fiction and non fiction while working within strict linguistic constraints. The session will also examine what the key priorities for writers are, what opportunities and challenges the genre offers, and how teachers themselves can delve into the art of crafting stories of their very own for their students.