[etni] Re: Extensive reading

**** ETNI on the web http://www.etni.org.il   http://www.etni.org   ****

The topic of extensive reading has been  appearing and re-appearing for
years on ETNI, which shows just how frustrated we continue to be by it.   By
the CHARADE of it, since we know that even if we have them do the book tasks
in class, even if we insist they bring the book (OK, we put them through the
minor inconvenience of having to get hold of the book in English), even if
we try to make a "blacklist" of books they can't read either because they're
reading it in Sifrut, or there's been a movie made out of it, (which will be
a very very long list), or whatever,  if they don't want to read/are too
pressured to read/ aren't capable of reading/give up in frustration or
boredom after reading 20 pages of/     the book in English, they will find a
way out of it.     I can identify with Bari here; though I have been in
Israel 26 years and read the Hebrew papers, I have never read a book in
Hebrew!  So I feel slightly hypocritical telling my pupils to read books in
English because unless they are on a very high level, it is not enjoyable -
even for those who like reading - but pretty much  a chore.   So I agree
with whoever else said that the book tasks have become a writing activity
because I'm tired of having to ask them the types of questions that will
supposedly "catch" those who haven't read the book.

What I do do is to try to cultivate an atmosphere in class that encourages
reading .   Before the book task I ask them to tell the class what they're
reading and to share their choices with the others.  I ask them to tell
others about other books they've read and would recommend.    I show them
how much I love reading and talk about the books I've read that I think
might interest them.  And after the book tasks I often put them in a circle
and have them talk about their books.   This year I have even had  them put
their recommendations up on the school web site (they have to do it, it's
part of their grade for the book task ;   maybe some will even feel
uncomfortable about lying the next time for everyone to see???????!!!!!! )
I don't delude myself that this works 100% of the time.  But I do believe
that it works part of the time and I have seen many pupils choosing to read
a book based on something a friend has recommended, or even that I
recommended.    And if they  read the book in Hebrew?  At least they've read
a book!!!!!!!!!

Regards, Maxine Tsvaigrach

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Bari Nirenberg" <nirenber@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: <gailshb@xxxxxxxxxxxx>; <etni@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Thursday, November 27, 2003 6:57 PM
Subject: [etni] Re: Extensive reading


> **** ETNI on the web http://www.etni.org.il   http://www.etni.org   ****
>
> >
> > Frankly it really has become a writing activity and NOT reading
> > for most kids. My own sons rarely did any reading. Often they
> > "borrowed" book tasks from friends in other schools. That is why
> > MY students did theirs in class, with a copy of the book in
> > question on the table. No other way to assure the task is done by
> > the kids.
> >
>
> I'm not sure what to say about this, other than the fact that it's true
and
> I still can't decide how much I care.  Yes, I would like my students to
> read.  But realistically, I know that kids who don't even like to read in
> their native language aren't going to read a book in a foreign language.
> And practically, I know how hard it is to read in a language that you're
not
> very proficient in.  I never read a Hebrew book until my Hebrew was at a
> very high level.  When I was at ulpan at Haifa University, we read the
book
> "Michael Sheli" by Amos Oz.  I read the first page in Hebrew.  It took me
> forever.  Then I went out and bought the translation to English.  I was
> anything but "unmotivated" -- I was simply frustrated.  And I'm someone
who
> enjoys reading.  I can't expect a kid who hates reading to pick up a book
in
> English and read it (I can require him to do so, but unless he does it in
> the same room with me, there's no way I can "make" him).  And with all of
> the other problems that we have in the classroom, I'm not sure this is the
> point I want to get stuck on and to be very very strict about.  I make
> believe that I think they've read the book and they do the assignment.
Some
> of them, especially the 5-pointers, DO read the books (I had a kid read
one
> of the Harry Potter books in English and do a wonderful assignment -- a
> conversation between Hagrid and one of the other characters.  The language
> used by Hagrid was so similar to the way that he speaks in the books that
it
> was amazing and it was also very obvious that the kid had read the book in
> English because there's no way he could have written like that after
reading
> in Hebrew).  Some of them try reading English for the first time and
> discover that it actually helps them to improve their vocabulary (and
their
> grades!) and I praise and encourage them.  And some of them show me books
> and then I have no idea what they do with them, but they write book
reports
> in class and I grade them.
>
> So call me a bad teacher or tell me I'm not conscientious or call me a
fool.
> I'd prefer to call myself pragmatic.
>
> Bari
>
> #####  To send a message to the ETNI list email: etni@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
#####
> #####  Send queries and questions to: ask@xxxxxxxx    #####
>


#####  To send a message to the ETNI list email: etni@xxxxxxxxxxxxx   #####
#####  Send queries and questions to: ask@xxxxxxxx    #####

Other related posts: