[etni] Re: Extensive reading

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>
> 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

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