Recently researchers have tried to investigate the role of intensive and extensive reading in
developing reading and second language acquisition (SLA). According to Palmer (1964) in
extensive reading the learner reads rapidly for getting information and pleasure, without any
notice to meaning and linguistic features. So it is a “supplementary reading”. Also he (1921)
noted that in intensive reading the learners study the passage carefully and notice to grammatical point of the text. Carrell & Carson (1997) stated that in extensive reading students
read longer contents to know the gist and essential parts of the text rapidly without any effort to
recognize the structure. So, in learning to read extensively learners obtain a large amount of
materials. Moreover, Harmert (2001) stated that the teachers play crucial role in teaching
extensive or intensive reading. In former teacher encourage students to read for pleasure to
enhance their general knowledge and in the latter, aims to develop their skills. According to
Paran (2003) for developing individuals' reading skill both extensive reading and “a more
focused approach (intensive reading), including explicit instruction is also needed: it deals with
more detailed comprehension and has an important role in teaching reading strategies” ( p.40).
Corder (1979) suggests that because bilinguals have some opportunities so they can make
comparison between two languages; this is a facilator factor and an asset for them on learning a
new language. Consequently, bilinguals can benefit this asset to generate the new language's
structure and learn more efficiently. Kenner (2000) based on the results of National Literacy
Strategy that recognizing “similarity and differences between languages at word, sentence and
text level” (1998, p.107) contribute bilinguals in identifying the way of systems operation in
different language.