Resumen

NIEVES, Idami  y  MAYORA, Carlos A. Extensive reading in english: a theoretical proposal for the improvement of reading comprehension of high school students in Venezuela. Letras [online]. 2012, vol.54, n.86, pp.76-98. ISSN 0459-1283.

Extensive reading (ER), in the teaching of foreign language, is defined as an approach through which the students read big amounts of texts of their choice in the target language with emphasis on meaning (Day y Bamford, 1998). Although a considerable number of research reports suggest the effectiveness of this approach, the experiences dealing with implementing ER in Venezuela are scarce. This documentary research work aims at presenting arguments in favor of ER as a feasible option for the improvement of the competences in reading comprehension of high school students. On this basis, the ER approach is described from theoretical, practical and empirical perspectives. Finally, some possible limitations are presented for the implementation of the approach in our country, and a model that might overcome such limitations is proposed.

Palabras clave : Extensive reading in English; methodological principles; English as a foreign language.