Reading Quotes w Citations  These are quotations you will want to be aware of about why reading is so important for language acquisition and how to read with students. They are from leading thinkers in world language. There are categories on The Efficiency of Reading, Reading & Vocabulary, Reading & Grammar, Reading Aloud to Students, Authentic Texts, Reading Versus Video, and Self-Selected Reading.

Each quote also has the scholarly source so you can look them up yourself and quote them with confidence.

Here are a couple of my favorites:

  • STUDENTS CAN ACQUIRE DIFFICULT GRAMMAR JUST BY READING

“The only significant predictor of the ability to use the subjunctive was the amount of free voluntary reading done in Spanish; the amount of formal study of Spanish, the amount of formal study specifically aimed at the subjunctive, and how long subjects had lived in a Spanish-speaking country were not significant predictors of subjunctive competence.”

―Stephen Krashen (2001). Free Voluntary Reading, p. 27

  • READING BUILDS BIGGER VOCABULARIES

“Less frequent words… may best be learned by reading extensively, because there is just not enough time to learn them all through conscious study.”

―Norbert Schmitt (2000). Vocabulary in Language Teaching, p. 137

Please add your own favorite quotes about reading and give the sources. Together we all get better.