[etni] the "love" of literature and book reports

From: Avi Granit <judiavi@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: ETNI <etni@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Date: Tue, 05 May 2009 00:03:07 +0300

I would like to remind teachers that love of literature and reading in L1 is 
not the same as in L2.  How many of you native English teachers out there are 
like me in that you love reading and literature so much in L1 that you cannot 
or will not do it in L2 as it loses its great pleasure factor?   
Perhaps I am an exception but,I think not, in that I have only forced myself to 
read books in Hebrew twice.  And yes, it was by force and I did not enjoy the 
books nearly half as much as I would have in English (I even enjoy Hebrew 
writers translated into English more than reading in the original Hebrew.....I 
know... tut tut.... - shoot me!).  

I know that many of my pupils are regular book worms in Hebrew, do not need me 
to inspire the love of literature or book reading in them as they already have 
it in their L1.   The difficult task is to get them to plough through a book in 
English, it usually takes them much longer, it is often frustrating and so much 
less enjoyable for them than reading in L1.    I know exactly how they feel 
which is why I even read the Israeli newspapers in English (and I know that 
there are many of you out there like me!).  Do not get me wrong, my Hebrew is 
fluent, I converse with my family in Hebrew and attend lectures without 
difficulty......reading, however, is different.

I'm sure there are pupils out there who begin reading books in English (their 
L2) and develop a love of reading from this...but lets be honest, they are the 
exception.   Let's remember that many of our students have the love of 
literature and reading but still do not want to pick up a book in English.

Judi G.
 



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[etni] the "love" of literature and book reports

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