English Language Teaching

I do agree that reading is of utmost importance.  Unfortunately, learners of today (Generally speaking) are just not interested.  Learners are not aware of what literature is out there.  They have this idea that reading is boring.  Teachers must encourage learners to read.  The more they read for enjoyment, they will be able to do orals with a lot more confidence.  Remember, as educators we should help mould the learner holistically.

English Language Teaching

Yes children should definately read more but the problem that many learners are facing today is the one where they can't read and struggle with reading that is why they don't seem to enjoy it as much as they used to.  Teachers don't spend enough time on reading with the class.  Reading has become so neglected that there is a huge gap in their reading abilities, and this occurs within various ages.  Parents should become aware of this problem and also spend time with their children on reading.

English Language Teaching

Yes children should definately read more but the problem that many learners are facing today is the one where they can't read and struggle with reading that is why they don't seem to enjoy it as much as they used to.  Teachers don't spend enough time on reading with the class.  Reading has become so neglected that there is a huge gap in their reading abilities, and this occurs within various ages.  Parents should become aware of this problem and also spend time with their children on reading.

English Language Teaching

Yes I agree with this statement but there are other factors which should be considered as well.  reading has become neglected not just by teachers but also by parents.  they don't spen enough time reading with their children and in the primary schools like in Gr.4 many of those learners don't know how to read and that is why they don't show any interest in reading.

English Language Teaching

Reading is in our day to day life and it can't be ignored.  The more you read as a learner, the more confident you will be in not just oral work but in conversations with peers and friends.  You find this usefull where  second language English learners have to communicate with friends that has English as a Home Language, or are English speaking.  Yes it is a challenge, if it is found difficult or not.  The fact of the matter still is:  You have to be able to read to get somewhere...  It is of utmost importance.

English Language Teaching

Commenting on LootsN.  Parents do not have time to read to younger children anymore as they have busy days themselves and are tired from working the whole day.  That is why teachers MUST implement more time on reading in the classrooms.  Putting up posters that will encourage learners to look at it and draw interest in reading of what it is about.  It can broaden their general knowledge on world matters and especially the economic world.  A good example of this is to have updated and regularly changed newspapers in your classroom.

English Language Teaching

Even if you consider how much the world has changed, why read if you canwatch a movie?  It only takes two hours to watch and you are visually entertained.  Maybe that's why learners struggle to aplly their own thoughts on things.  They have such a lackof imagination.

English Language Teaching

I also think that people in general don't read anymore.  could be because they destested it as a child.  Now that hatred for reading has developed into a fear for reading.  

English Language Teaching

I think problem starts in the early phases. Teachers and parents alike, need to encourage a development for a love of reading from an early age, create a good foundation. A way that this could be achieved is to introduce them to relavent as well as 'updated' text i.e introduce them to novels and books that they can relate to, instead of just the 'classic' literary novels. Something to excite them, to make them want to read more.

I like the idea of newspapers in the classroom, but the teacher can take it one step further by highlighting some of the articles in the paper that may interest them. Give them a 'teaser' introduction...one which will make them want to read the article themselves to find out more! Could also include magazines or articles 'of taste' like the readers digest or national geographics to try and target a greater range of interests and therefore reach a larger portion of children within the class. I believe the greater the variety of texts, the more children will be reached within a class.

Teachers, and parents (which i agree plays a important part in their development), need

English Language Teaching

We are encouraged to use newspapers in our classrooms. We are even lucky enough to be provided with newspapers for free from our local publisher (albeit they are old).

You can use newspapers for so many things, and as opposed to magazines, they are really cheap. When working with magazines, it is best to try group work. This is especially effective if you ask the students to do advertisement analysis.

English Language Teaching

I agree that teachers have a responsibility to their learners by encouraging reading and an interest in litarature, but if we are honest and realistic, our lives as teachers are hectic and we are given responsibility of 30-40 children and unless the parents step up and they also take responsibility for their children's education the changes that teachers bring will be minimal. Parents should teach their children to read while they are still young and at home. Not all parents have the resources to buy book, but they have Bibles and news papers which will also influence the interest the child has in reading. By the time the child gets to school level they have been "bitten" by the reading bug and are able to engage in the world of literature. This will also influence their vocabulary and their knowledge of the English language.

English Language Teaching

Reading should be encouraged from an early age, when one encourages reading the child becomes motivated to read evn more.therefore the parents are the first place one should look at when teaching children a love for reading. whilst reading newspapers and religous material serves its pupose, the real key in unlocking the world of biiks for children is reading popular books of today that appeal to them and are aimed to their lives in the 21st century.

English Language Teaching

Reading should be encouraged from an early age, when one encourages reading the child becomes motivated to read evn more.therefore the parents are the first place one should look at when teaching children a love for reading. whilst reading newspapers and religous material serves its pupose, the real key in unlocking the world of biiks for children is reading popular books of today that appeal to them and are aimed to their lives in the 21st century.

English Language Teaching

The problem with teaching reading from an early age these days, especially in SA, is what language/s should the children begin reading?

I mean, we are emphasising the whole "learn in your mother tongue" thing, but by the time the children get to grade 8, they can barely write a coherent sentence, never mind spell the words in it correctly.

I think that parents should take the responsibility of helping their children at home more, becasue the teachers at school can only do so much, especially with the primary school children.

English Language Teaching

It is really important for all children starting at an early age to start reading. Parents need to encourage their children to read everyday, pacing themselves. This will build the learners intellect and open their mind and even improve their language acquiring skills and vocabulary. It is really very important to instill in our learners the importance and absolute gain that  they can get through reading. Reading is power!

English Language Teaching

I totally agree with the above, and there is not much time in class to reteach language basics.

Re: English Language Teaching

i totally agree with the notion mentioned.education is the key to success and i believe every persorn must be in a position to be skilled when it comes to reading and writing.

Re: English Language Teaching

i totally agree with the notion mentioned.education is the key to success and i believe every persorn must be in a position to be skilled when it comes to reading and writing.

Re: English Language Teaching

i totally agree with the notion mentioned.education is the key to success and i believe every persorn must be in a position to be skilled when it comes to reading and writing.

Re: English Language Teaching

i totally agree with the notion mentioned.education is the key to success and i believe every persorn must be in a position to be skilled when it comes to reading and writing.

Re: English Language Teaching

what can be done to make these kids understand that english is the common language in the real world?

Re: English Language Teaching

you can also learn how to communicate in english from other sources of infomation like newspapers and e.t.c

Re: English Language Teaching

Education is the key to any success and every persorn must be in a position to be skilled when it comes to reading and writing.Any subject tha is to be taught in class,english must be used to cater all the understanding of various cultures in class.This language is the most fundermental medium of intraction.

Re: English Language Teaching

Re: English Language Teaching

Education is the key to any success and every persorn must be in a position to be skilled when it comes to reading and writing.Any subject tha is to be taught in class,english must be used to cater all the understanding of various cultures in class.This language is the most fundermental medium of intraction

Re: English Language Teaching

the kids can improve their language and writing skills by reading newspapers and magazines

Re: English Language Teaching

the more one practices the language, is the more the skills are improved

Re: English Language Teaching

the kids can improve their language if they read magazine and be taught english as their medium of instruction.