An ESL reading efficienty course was designed to tackle "sheer volume," frequently the nonnative speaker's greatest difficulty with university courses. Using overhead transparencies coupled with tape recordings, and eventually proceeding to real textbooks, sufficient practice was accomplished in the immediate controlled situation, but…

Argues that both an over-theoretical approach and a too pragmatic orientation should be avoided in teaching reading in a second language. Examples of problems encountered by German learners of English are detailed against the background of a discussion of reading purposes. Course-planning to meet student needs is also discussed. (Author/AMH)