English as a foreign language: reading is fun-Damental
Teachers and learners of English as a foreign language:
Did you know that Wednesday, April 23, 2008 is National Book and Reading Day? Some places also call it “Language Day” or pay homage to English William Shakespeare and Spanish Miguel Cervantes. Both writers, although born in different years, supposedly died on the same day in the year 1616.
Along with a day to honor, or at least remember, two of literature’s most auspicious contributors, I thought I’d take the opportunity to divulge some recent reading statistics published in Colombia. Some of them I found quite awful. How is the country where YOU live and teach?
reading in colombia
In a 2005 study, Colombians read an average of only 1.5 (one point five) books per year! When asked why so few, technology and the Internet were primarily cited as the reasons most never opened a book. Television also shouldered most of the blame for non-readers.
However, back in 2000, the average number of books read “rose” to 2.4 (two point four) books per year in Colombia. This is still way below anything I’ve read before.
Incredulous, I surveyed hundreds of my EFL students and fellow ELT teachers.
“How many books did you have to read during your college or university years?” I asked.
For me in the US, most college majors required around 400 or more books to read and/or refer to during a four-year stay. Many Colombian colleagues and students cited approximately 20, that is, twenty books to read during a five-year undergraduate program!
A five-year periodic study
Below are some more interesting statistics from the “Study of Reading Habits, Library Assistance Book Consumption in Colombia” (2005) that is carried out every five years. The next scheduled study is set for 2010.
22% of Colombians say they do NOT have books at home in contrast to
4.1% of Mexicans who say they do NOT have books at home
7.7% of Colombians said they have more than 100 books at home in contrast to
24.6% of Mexicans who said they have more than 100 books at home
41% of Colombians over 12 years of age prefer to read books
26% prefer to read magazines and
32% prefer to read newspapers and other periodicals.
79.7% of children and young people said they read despite the accessibility of technology and television
Colombian cities host special celebrations
It is reported that there are 27 Colombian cities and municipalities hosting celebrations and special events today or during this week. These include the following as reported in the newspaper “El Tiempo”, April 20, 2008.
The cities are: Armenia, Rio Hacha, Barranquilla, Buenaventura, Bogotá, Bucaramanga, Ipiales, Leticia, Cali, San Andrés, Cartagena, Santa Marta, Cúcuta, Sincelejo, Ibagué, Valledupar, Manizales, Florencia, Medellín, Girardot, Neiva, Montería , Pereira, Villavicencio, Popayán, Tunja and Pasto.
If your area has any recognition of this day, why not encourage your EFL students to participate? If not, why not prepare some activities for your English learners?
English teachers and parents: If YOU don’t read, then your students and children won’t see the value in developing this habit and skill. You need to lead by example and help them develop reading for pleasure and reading comprehension skills.
Me too? I read ten non-academic books during the end-of-year break from December to January. But hey, I like to read.
By the way, how many books do YOU read each year?