摘要：AbstractIn an ideal situation EFL students should learn the target language intensively and extensively. Providing outside reading materials to encourage extensive reading is a good way to master a foreign language and to absorb new knowledge. This study attempts to investigate students’ perceptions of doing outside reading and self-access counseling. Three hundred and fifty students from a university in Taiwan participated in this study. Their English ability ranged from high-beginning to intermediate level. They were assigned to self-read several articles after class and then received an assessment test. A total of four assessment tests were conducted during the year. After finishing the final assessment, they completed a survey. The results showed that most students, not confident with language forms, needed instruction and guidance while preparing for the assigned outside readings. They confessed that they did benefit from outside reading, but sometimes they were not sure whether their comprehension was right or wrong. They could do better if the teacher explained some of the content and highlighted the key words or structures in class. To monitor their learning, regular quizzes and soft requirements were necessary. Based on the results, some pedagogical implications are proposed.
