THE EFFECT OF EXTENSIVE READING ON WRITING FLUENCY AND CREATIVITY

This study investigates the effect of extensive reading on the development of writing fluency and creativity among advanced-level 7th-grade English as a Foreign Language (EFL) learners in a primary school context in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. The research employed a quasi-experimental pre-test/post-test design over six weeks, integrating an extensive reading program with self-selected graded readers. Data were collected through timed writing tasks administered before and after the intervention, complemented by creativity rubrics and student attitude surveys. Quantitative analysis revealed statistically significant improvements in writing fluency, as evidenced by increased word count, sentence complexity, and lexical variety. Creativity scores also rose substantially, with learners demonstrating more originality and expressive language use. Qualitative data indicated enhanced learner motivation, confidence, and autonomy. The findings suggest that extensive reading is a powerful pedagogical tool for improving both the linguistic and creative dimensions of young EFL learners’ writing.