Home › Blogs › crystalheart's blog › Reading Independently
      TeachingEnglish
      Reading Independently
      Submitted by crystalheart on 31 January, 2012 - 08:33

      Do your students read out of class?

      In the video below, some high school students in the US confess how little reading they did in the first three years of high school. They explain how they faked for the reading in class discussions and essays, and report on how much they are reading now after being given the chance to choose their own books.

      http://www.heinemann.com/shared/player.aspx?id=kittlePromo&path=rtmp://heinpublishing.flashsvc.vitalstreamcdn.com/heinpublishing_vitalstream_com/_definst_/videos 

      I think it is almost same in Turkey. Most of the students do not like reading even in their native language. And English classes in secondary schools usually require students to read only a few works each year.

      I highly believe the importance of extensive reading or better to say independent reading. If the students choose their own books, they read it voluntarily and have more fun.

      How do you encourage your students to read outside classroom? 

       

      Average: 5 (1 vote)

      Tag

      Comments

      babakartal's picture
      babakartal
      book is the last
      Submitted on 31 January, 2012 - 10:23

      hi,crystalheart

      Thanks for your blog. I also visited "heinemann"

      Yes , our children don't read out of class. We used to read a lot out of the class, because unfortunately there wasn't anything to do .(no tv, no internet, no mobile phone no modern cafes, restaurants) It was obligation.(hard years)

       

      TalkingKatya's picture
      TalkingKatya
      reading lessons
      Submitted on 31 January, 2012 - 13:15

      Hi! I allow my students to read smth on their interests and after that to present about what they have read. Normally, we have homereading class once a week or twice a month. So it is their obligation to read some text in English. But above that, from time to time I try to organize reading classes: students can choose some text on their own (it might be an article or a book, some story or just a part of it) and after that to tell us about it (why he/she has chosen it, what it is about, what he/she learnt from it etc.). For my adult students I allow to read some magazines or journals according to their interests and hobbies.

      KInd regards,

      Katya 

      crystalheart's picture
      crystalheart
      @babakartal
      Submitted on 31 January, 2012 - 15:42

      Yes, you are right. We were lucky that we could get used to reading.

      If our students get the taste of it once, I'm sure they won't be able to give it up. 

      crystalheart's picture
      crystalheart
      @Katya
      Submitted on 31 January, 2012 - 15:45

      Dear Katya,

      I really liked the homereading class idea. I'll try to put it somewhere in the annual planning next term.

      CoffeeAddict's picture
      CoffeeAddict
      Here's what we do at my
      Submitted on 31 January, 2012 - 19:18

      Here's what we do at my school (SEV) to encourage reading: http://www.teachingenglish.org.uk/blogs/coffeeaddict/we-%E2%99%A5-reading

      Hope you like it!

      crystalheart's picture
      crystalheart
      @CoffeeAddict
      Submitted on 31 January, 2012 - 19:33

      Dear Karin,

      Thanks for reminding your school activities to encourage reading. Last year, after reading your blog, we tried some of the activities and it was really fun but unfortunately we still do not have a week for it. My principal thinks it should be for whole academic year instead of for one week. 

      bogolepovasv's picture
      bogolepovasv
      We also have Readers that go
      Submitted on 2 February, 2012 - 14:06

      We also have Readers that go along with the textbook and homereading lessons once a week. The students read a story at home and then we discuss it in class.

      Here, in Russia, people also say that nowadays people read less than they used to. Nevertheless, I often see students reading during breaks and in public transport. Maybe, we cannot offer them anything interesting enough?

      crystalheart's picture
      crystalheart
      @bogolepovasv
      Submitted on 2 February, 2012 - 18:49

      Thanks for sharing your extensive reading experiences. It's great to know students are reading during breaks.