3527. Learning a Lot by Reading a Lot

We teachers want our students should read massively and intensively, right? That is crucial, both if our students are young people and if they are adults. 

It is not enough we would say to them whatever their age is that they have to read a lot. We should rather help them and teach them how to read well. Even whatever the subject we teach is. 

If our students learn how to read well, we teachers will have reached pretty far concerning teaching them. 

For example, when reading, the reader has to grasp the meaning of what he’s reading. And thus he should get the gist as well as the main ideas of the text. 

Actually I’m an English language teacher, and I tell my adult learners they have to read simplified readers to learn and acquire English. They’re abridged and simplified books in accordance to different levels of difficulty and mastering of the language. 

Also something they do not have to do is to translate the texts into Spanish, no, no way! I try and say that to them in a kind and gentle way. 

They have to start with basic English books, and have to read with a dictionary aid. Either with a paper dictionary or with an online one, for example wordrefernce.com. 

Something essential too: they have to enjoy reading, they have to get delighted because they like what they read and they’re understanding more and more. Each word understood, each sentence understood, each paragraph understood, each page understood, are firm steps forward! 

And remember they have to focus on what they’re reading, trying to understand the message, not isolated words. 

So as to finish: Some of my students can afford to read an unabridged book or e-book, in full text. Have a nice week.