Self-Access Reading Resources for L2 Readers

Self-Access Reading Resources for L2 Readers

* My target students are first graders in middle school, advanced level, and the textbook is 'Middle School English 1' by Doosan dong-a.

* The purpose of providing web reading resources is to provide students with supplementary materials. Since they are advanced level, most of whom have been abroad to study English. the textbook itself is not challenging enough, they need out-of-class supplementary materials, which are closely related to the text. The materials are carefully chosen to challenge students' current level, but at the same time, provide them with interesting and informative reading articles. Some of the texts are a little challenging, so I wrote down what to do for those reading materials.

* My reading categories are chapter-based, and I chose chapters 1, 4, 7, 9, 12 on this blog.

**Chapter 1, Everything is New

1)'Classrooms around the world': There are 15 pictures and descriptions of various classroom settings around the world. Students are to choose 3 pictures they like and explain why they like them.

2)'20 great reasons you home school': Teacher briefly mentions what 'home scholing' is during class. Students are to read 20 reasons that support home schooling and choose 3 reasons, then write what they think about the idea of home schooling.

3)'Write a self introduction': Since this chapter is about making new friends and first day of school, students are to enter their information, what they like and dislike, on the blanks. When they enter'write it', the site will provide 5 versions of how to introduce yourself. Students are then asked to write the best version on a blank sheet and share with classmates later on.

4)'Shenyang Internation School': This is a school that Teacher Chan Mi Kim has went to in her middle school days. Students are free to look around the school site. Then, under 'academics-secondary', there are lists of subjects for middle school students. The reading is a little challenging for the students' current level, so they are to try their best. They are to choose 2 subjects they like and compare with the subjects in Korean middle school.

5)'First day at school'- This is a youtube video of a popular TV program which introduces different scenarios about life events. This video clip introduces first day at school for girls. As a related video, students can also click on 'boys' version of first day at school', which is in the related video section. This is in Korean, so I just put it for students' interest. However, students are to choose 2 tips on how to start your first day at school and write in English.

**Chapter 4, Shopping at Insa-dong

1)'Insa-dong shopping area': Since this chapter introduces different things you can shop in Insa-dong, this article provides supplementary information about Insa-dong, including pictures, transportation systems, and food. Students are to read the descriptions carefully and write a brief introduction of Insa-dong, pretending they are writing to a foreign friend.

2)'National holidays': This article introduces different national holidays in Korea. Students are to read each description and complete treasure hunt activity.

Q1. What 2 holidays are the most important in Korea? Write the holiday names and write at least one fact about each holiday.

Q2. For memorial day, where is the largest ceremony held?

Q3. Have you learned anything new while reading the article? Write at least one information that you did not know before.

Q4. Do your family celebrate all the holidays listed in this article? If not, what holiday do you not celebrate and why?

Q5. In your personal opinion, is there any holiday that should not be celebrated? If so, explain why. Or, is there any 'day' that you think should be added to the list? Explain why.

3)'How to wear hanbok': This is a youtube video about how to wear hanbok. I included this video because many young students in Korea do not know how to wear hanbok because there are not many occasions to wear it. Students are to carefully observe the video and the descriptions inside the video and write the procedure in 6 steps.

4)'20 body language facts': This is a supplementary reading article to compare customs in Korea vs. western culture. This article introduces 20 body language and what they generally mean in western culture. Students are to read them carefully and answer T/F questions.

Q1. Indirect eye contact means people are paying attention to you.

Q2. Blinking too much means people are pressured and anxious.

Q3. Leaning backward means people are interested in the other person.

Q4. Lowered head means people are happy and comfortable.

5)'Korean cultural properties': This is a youtube video (in Korean) of a popular TV program 'Infinite challenge'(무한도전) when the members of the program taught Korean history to young Korean singers. This clip especially focuses on Korean cultural properties. This is in Korean, so students are to freely watch the clip and learn about Korean assets. Then, they are to choose at least 2 cultural properties that was mentioned in the clip, search what it is briefly, and write about them.

**Chapter 7, A Summer to Remember

1)'My summer vacation': This is a short narrative story about summer vacation. Students are to read but also at the same time, listen, to the story. Then, they are to write 5 things the narrator wished to do during summer vacation.

2)'Top 10 vacation spots': This site introduces the top 10 vacation spots around the world. Read each vacation spot and choose the best spot they wish to travel. Then, write what is famous in that place and why they want to go there the most.

3)'Camping tips for girls': Since this is a long text, students are to skim the article briefly, and then choose one tip of their interest. Then, they are to briefly summarize the problem and solution mentioned in the article, then write their own individual solution that they think is more effective.

4)'Cool summer activities' puzzle: It is time for students to relax and enjoy solving world puzzle. The vocabularies are from the textbook. The purpose of this activity is for the students to be familiar with key vocabulary in the text while enjoying themselves.

**Chapter 9, A Healthy Life

1)'Healthy habits': This is a narrative story about healthy habits. Students are to read and listen to the story carefully. After reading, students are to write '5 things you MUST NOT DO in order to stay healthy', and write 2 tips of their own on how to keep yourself healthy.

2)'Harmful effects of junk food on health': The site provides 10 pictures (with descriptions) on how junk food negatively effects health. This is a little challenging text for their level. Students are to read each description and write 3 reasons why junk food is bad for their health (in their own words, not copying).

3)'Kids' Medical Dictionary': This site contains various categories that explain medical terms into easy definitions. Students are to choose 5 of them and write a brief summary about each terms in their own words.

4)'Drugs, alcohol, and smoking': I chose this article because even though my target students are middle school 1st grade, many of them are consistently exposed to alcohol and smoking. This article is an interview of a boy who says he would not date a girl who uses any of these things. Students are to briefly skim the text, then read the section 'Would you date a girl who uses drugs, alcohol, or tobacco?' carefully, and write why the boy opposes to these three things, and whether they agree or not.

5)'Stretching': This is a youtube video of soccer player Jisung Park's advertisement. This is not related to reading actually, but I put this for students to have fun watching, but at the same time follow Jisung Park on stretching. It is important for students to stretch regularly but they are not aware of the dangers of not stretching.

**Chapter 12, Your Dream, Your Future

1)'10 most unusual jobs': This article introduces 10 most unusual and unique, but fun jobs in the world. Students are to read each job description about write about two jobs that they most likely want to be and explain why.

2)'How to become...(blank)': This site provide several interesting steps about jobs that a person wants to have. On the upper right corner (google- custom search', students can enter their dream job, for example: how to become a lawyer/ or, how to become a doctor, and click 'search' button. Several links will be provided, but when they click on the first one, it will show them the steps and tips on how to get that dream job. Students are then to read them carefully and summarize the most important steps and write about them.

3)'Interview DOs and DON'Ts': This site provides helpful tips on job interviews. The article is a little challenging, so students are to briefly skim the text, choose 2 DOs and 2 DON'Ts, and write why they think those tips are helpful and worth mentioning.

4)'Paul Potts Interview': For students to get some motivation about reaching their dreams, I prepared an interview clip of Paul Potts (has subtitles in Korean', who was a regular salesman but entered a popular audition program and reached his dream as an opera singer.

5)'Find the person's job!': This is a matching activity of key vocabularies from the text. Students are to match each job with an example person. The purpose of this activity is to have students to be familiar with key terms, and at the same time, have fun matching.