Hi everybody,

I've just finished reading a thread in Mario Rinvolucri's blog about reading, and the difference betwwen reception and interpretation. I really think that this has much to do with what Louise M. Rosenblatt considers efferent and aesthetic reading. In the aesthetic reading, we're focussing on the personal meaning, filling in the blanks while reading and diving into a literary experience which is unique. Of course, we're also having an efferent experience, as we are taking information from what we read, but that's not our primary purpose.

In Spain, there is too much time devoted to efferent reading in the classrooms. In fact, reading in EFL is more an excuse to introduce language and structures and to check "comprehension " (I doubt whether the word comprehension is really used well in the so-called "comprehension activities"). Students do not have the chance to express their views on a text, and what's worst, they don't know how to do it. That's why I firmly believe that teachers should look at the aesthetic stance, and try to balance the reading experiences of students, giving them the opportunity to learn how to build their OWN literary experiences. This "learning" is really involved in students' critical awareness, and I would dare to admit that students who build this learning and more mature and independent learners and human beings.

What do you think about this? Are you having the same experience with your learners? How can we foster aesthetic reading?

Thanks a million,

Raquel F