This paper explores the experiences of successful foreign language learners. First, based upon the experiences of the masters of English in the past, the importance of reading extensively authentic English materials such as English literature is discussed. Second, the author analyzes her own personal interviews with contemporary masters and successful learners of English, Chinese and Japanese as a foreign language and attempts to identify the effective ways they have used in common in their language learning. The ‘oral histories’ of advanced level foreign language learners are used to consider how extensive reading and extensive listening help them to become competent bilinguals who can use more than one language practically, skillfully and strategically. Some testimonies also report that reading graded readers is quite effective especially for the intermediate learners.
https://ror.org/02pc6pc55 
