A New Interpretation of English Reading Activities: The Implementation of the Principles of Deep Knowledge

Abstract

Reading is the main method to learn and novel reading not only helps language learning and knowledge expansion but also increases fun and thus encourages motivation. Many have reported on the theoretical and practical prospects of novel reading in ELT, but rarely did they discuss the issue from an interdisciplinary viewpoint. This pioneer study aimed to explore novel reading activities from a newly developed theory, the Principles of Deep Knowledge (PDK), in addition to 154 college students’ fondness level of language activities via the novel The Five People You Meet In Heaven. The results of this study generate various effective and fun activities that could enhance learners’ reading ability of longer text, increase reading interest, change and expand their habitual domains based on the PDK characteristics and encourage life-long reading habit.