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Graded Reader Challenge
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Extensive Reading is an important part of the IEC curriculum. The IEC has a large Extensive Reading library, which is accessible to students in both the classroom and main library. To encourage students to read, each semester the IEC holds the MReader Challenge. The MReader Challenge is a reading contest open to all Tokai students. To enter the MReader Challenge, students must read 100,000 words with MReader quizzes passed. Students who reach this target are invited to an award ceremony hosted by the Director of the IEC. Students can find more information about the MReader Challenge in E-navi and the IEC office.


The Challenge
Every year, around 70 students complete the MReader Challenge by reading 40 books or 100,000 words with MReader quizzes passed, including basic level students.
Students are encouraged to....

1. Read 40 or more graded readers or a total of 100,000 words or more
2. Pass 40 or more MReader quizzes or passes quizzes with a word total of 100,000 or more
3. Students who complete the Challenge receive (1) a certificate of achievement, (2) an invitation to attend lunch with the Director, and (3) prizes!

That is extensive reading?
It is a method for students of English as a 2nd language to improve their overall ability in English by reading a large volume of English, usually with less than perfect understanding.
ER has the following basic characteristics:

1. It is usually done outside of class.
2. The texts are easier than the students’ current English level.
3. The students should read quickly for general understanding.
4. Students should try to read directly in English.
5. There is little or no dictionary look-up.

It is particularly useful for reinforcement of known grammar, vocabulary and word patterns, and for increasing reading speed. You can find out more about the ER approach by going to The ER foundation.

Extensive Reading at Tokai University
The Main University Library (Building 4) holds a large amount of books dedicated to extensive reading. The IEC also has a mobile library with over 16,000 books with over 1,200 titles for teachers to bring to their classrooms each week. They are arranged in groups according to their level of difficulty. Here is the overall process:

1. Students have a goal in number of words or books set at the beginning of the term.
2. Students are also set at a specific reading level, depending on the level of their class.
3. Students borrow books from the main library or from those teachers using the IEC mobile library in class.
4. When a student has read a book, they take a short 10-item quiz on MReader.
5. If they pass the quiz, the number of words in the book is added to their total words for the semester and a cover of the book appears on their own reading page on MReader.
6. Teachers may use the graded readers and MReader quizzes as a portion of the students final grade.
7. At the end of the term, those students who have read 40 books or 100,000 words and passed the MReader quiz are eligible to enter the MReader Challenge. By partaking in the Challenge students receive a certificate of achievement and prizes.

MReader Quizzes

1. The MReader quiz is an easy way for teachers to ascertain whether students did their extensive reading.
2. Students take the short quizzes on the MReader site.
3. Students may register through Enavi or register as a class in mass.
4. Many students enjoy the challenge of reaching their reading goal and find the game like manner of collecting book cover “stamps” to be fun.

Quick Links

Writing Contest

English Cafe

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Tsumagoi Camp

International Fair

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E-Navi

Speech Contest

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Graded Reader Challenge