Free Reading: Benefits, Variations and Possibilities

This article will review the role of free reading in the English Language Learning (ELL) classroom and the reasons for including free reading in the ELL classroom. These reasons include, but are not limited to, improved language acquisition, literacy skills and cultural knowledge. This article will discuss what free reading is, the benefits of free reading, the results of some recent research in Japan and the role that free reading can play for International College of Technology (ICT) students. This article is meant to provide a rationale and an overview of how free reading can provide a pathway to improving student English ability.