Abstract

The functional importance of reading instruction with regard to society and individual is an undeniable fact.  One of the essential goals of education is to actualize reading instruction which has a very important role in adopting the values of the contemporary civilization. Considering teaching, these educational goals which are based on a solid ground, reading instruction plays a very important role. With its philosophical, psychological, social, and anthropological aspects, reading is all the activities undertaken throughout life. Reading socializes, informs, and shapes the individuals’ life.  Moreover, reading is carried out to raise individuals who have communication skills, use language accurately, fluently, and effectively, have acquired reading habit and reading for pleasure, can think fast, have a strong perception, can interpret independently, have critical thinking skills, can analyse and synthesize, has broad horizons, have a certain cultural level, are attached to national and moral values, can empathise, and who are culturally and socially rich. The qualitative study which was conducted via literature review explored how reading instruction which plays a very important role regarding acquiring some skills such as individuals’ self-realization, creating identity, and gaining understanding and comprehension is reflected functionally on social and individual life. In addition,  reflections of reading instruction which has an important place in Turkish learning and teaching on individual and social life were emphasized and evaluations were made  revealing their  functional impacts on individual and social life. The factors which affect the individuals and societies while acquiring reading habit and reading for pleasure were examined and recommendations were made within this context.

Key words: Reading, education and training, individual, society.