Reading is a key component of learning a second language and it is without a doubt important as a language does not consist solely of the spoken word. There are many benefits to developing excellent reading skills in the target language; one benefit is the culture that one gains by reading in the target language. Through reading, students gain access to literature written in the target language. This literature shows the students what authentic materials in the target language look like as well as provides them with insight into the cultural beliefs and values.
Another benefit of reading is that it contributes significantly to the development of that target language. Students are exposed to complex and authentic forms of the language through their own process of noticing; it might not happen right away, but as a student develops more in the language, then more complex forms will be noticed through reading. Krashen also advocated the promotion of reading as it provides students with signifcant amounts of comprehensible input; the greater the amount of comprehensible input students were exposed to, the greater their language development.