Extensive Reading under the 2018 General Education Curriculum for Vietnamese Literature in Vietnam

Abstract: In the 2018 General Education Curriculum for Vietnamese Literature, extensive reading is a compulsory instructional component, systematically implemented from Grade 1 through Grade 12. Enabling students to independently and proficiently read new and equivalent texts not only contributes to enhancing their linguistic and literary competence but also plays a crucial role in fostering individuality, self-directed learning, and lifelong learning capacities. However, at present, many teachers still have a rather vague understanding of the requirements, methods, and instructional strategies for this content. As a result, some teachers either conduct lessons similarly to intensive reading sessions or provide superficial guidance without appropriate methods of assessment and evaluation. This study clarifies the concept and nature of extensive reading activities and proposes several practical solutions to improve the effectiveness of teaching extensive reading in Vietnamese Literature. In particular, the article focuses on organizing extensive reading activities by text genres and employing modern, suitable, and scientific instructional techniques and assessment methods.