The effects of extensive reading on self-regulated learning strategies of Turkish adult EFL learners

Self-regulated learning strategies are important for the individual in terms of personal and professional development. The educational importance of self-regulated learning strategies has been widely recognized in the literature. However, there have not been adequate studies to improve these strategies in English as a foreign language context. Taking this gap as an impetus, this study aimed to explore the effects of extensive reading activities on self-regulated learning strategies of Turkish adult EFL learners. This study is both a qualitative and a quantitative study, which lasted four months. This study was conducted with 35 prep-class students of Karamanoğlu Mehmetbey University who participated in the study voluntarily. The case group was given a questionnaire at the beginning of the study to see their awareness level of self-regulated learning strategies. In addition, students were interviewed before and after the study. During the study, an extensive reading program was implemented and students were encouraged to read books according to their level and interest outside the class. At the end of the study, the same questionnaire was administered and the students were interviewed to see whether there had been an improvement in students' self-regulated learning strategies. The quantitative data were analysed through descriptive statistics. The obtained data revealed that extensive reading activities improved students' self-regulated learning strategies. Keywords: Extensive reading, self-regulated learning.