Reading comprehension is challenging for many learners of Japanese as a second language. However, reading a certain amount in the target language is essential for learning sentence patterns and vocabulary. Thus, efforts are underway to provide beginners with lessons related to; 1) reading aloud, speed reading, careful reading, and text-copying, with the use of reading comprehension textbooks; 2) answering reading-comprehension questions in Japanese-Language Proficiency Test; and 3) reading texts of about 200 characters incorporating the sentence patterns taught in classes. This article reports on such initiatives.
