How can we use literature and Extensive Reading to foster empathy?

There has been a long-held belief, that reading literature – novels, poems, plays – improves empathy and social competence, and makes us more moral. This is sometimes referred to as narrative empathy. In this Lesson we will examine how literature can foster empathy, how to select literature for our students, and the benefits of Extensive Reading in improving language competence and boosting empathy.