Autonomous learning in Chinese extensive reading

As an important part of Chinese learning for international Chinese learners, reading is also the major difficulty for learners meanwhile. At present, the research of extensive reading mainly focuses on in-class teaching while autonomous learning out of class is neglected. Nevertheless, as an important way to learn Chinese, autonomous learning plays a significant role in Chinese acquisition. Compared with the traditional study in classroom, autonomous learning has the advantages of time, self-planning, learning style, reading materials and interest. Researching on the application of autonomous learning for international Chinese learners, this paper aims to help them improve their competence of extensive reading by autonomous learning. Through analyzing an article The Cowherd and the Girl Weaver, this paper reflects six different reading levels (retell, explanation, reforming, extension, criticism, and creativity) and analyzes how autonomous learning can be applied to these six levels of reading. This paper puts forward various methods which are beneficial for cultivating international Chinese learners’ reading skills with the sufficient and reasonable use of autonomous learning.