Reading Club in English as an Interdisciplinary Course in University

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Abstract

There is no doubt that reading is one of the crucial elements for raising self-awareness, developing critical thinking, and improving communication skills and empathy. Nevertheless, the promotion of reading among teenagers and young adults is an increasingly challenging task in the context of the contemporary digitalized world. Moreover, proficiency in English or another foreign language is also a key factor in the harmonious development of an open-minded, educated person. The author argues that having a reading club is an effective way to promote reading among university students, making them engage with art, literature, and social issues while fostering their English proficiency. One of the biggest challenges to the course’s successful functioning is the prejudices many students have against reading. The author proposes an innovative method that was applied in the interdisciplinary course Reading Club in English at a Spanish university. A detailed description of the methodology, academic results, and perception of the students are presented, and recommendations for the successful implementation of this course in other institutions are given.