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critical reading/reader
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Sun, 03/29/2009 - 12:40
Hi all,
One of the central objectives in EFL teaching is to get our ss to be informed readers; readers who should possess abilities and competencies to be analytical readers that can read in a very critical manner. Ss should learn not to receive passively texts without asking questions and interpreting the unsaid of literary texts.
Hence,
1-are there any specfic tools/methods to enhance critical reading?
2-Do you think initiating literary criticism is a feasible one?
3- What would be the final outcomes if we initiate critical reading?
Responses are very warmly welcome.
Mon, 03/30/2009 - 12:29
#2
Hi Mustapha and Chris,
I think too much reading can foster critical thinking. Literary criticism depnds on how the teacher is using it. In our undergraduate studies, we had a university teacher teaching us introduction to literary criticism and he was all the time dictating. We felt bored and less active in his class because there was no room for discussion. Too much TTT and rejection of the students views. one who was right was that teacher. How silly!
Chris, wish you a joyous moment in Cardiff. Please notify us of the latest news there.
Rachid
Mon, 03/30/2009 - 12:29
#3
Hi Mustapha and Chris,
I think too much reading can foster critical thinking. Literary criticism depnds on how the teacher is using it. In our undergraduate studies, we had a university teacher teaching us introduction to literary criticism and he was all the time dictating. We felt bored and less active in his class because there was no room for discussion. Too much TTT and rejection of the students views. one who was right was that teacher. How silly!
Chris, wish you a joyous moment in Cardiff. Please notify us of the latest news there.
Rachid
Mon, 03/30/2009 - 21:57
#4
Hi Mostafa!
Glad to see you here. Thanks for reminding me about conference. I understood: the winners are those who were the first. To enhance critical reading we need prereading tasks and discussions: the better tasks - the better final outcomes. May be you understand critical reading like something else? Be in touch.
Tatiana
Wed, 04/01/2009 - 15:17
#5
Hi Chris. Everyone. We are having an interesting discussion about Critical Thinking next door, in the EAP forum, can you visit us, it would be lovely! We need your opinions.
Best
Andrea
Wed, 04/01/2009 - 15:45
#6
Hi Andrea
Thnaks a lot for the invitation - things are hectic here in Cardiff as it is now the first full day of the conference but I'll drop by your forum as soon as possible.
Cheers - Chris
Wed, 04/01/2009 - 19:07
#7
Great!! Please send me some pictures!!
best
Andrea
Wed, 04/01/2009 - 20:25
#8
Hello
I would associate literary criticism with University language studies or with some kind of secondatry level specialist course like language 'A' Levels in the British curriculum.
My students are doing vocational diplomas in subjects like electrical/civil engineering, but are required to do English courses and get IELTS GT to exit the programme. They just don't really read in their own language - and definitely not in English apart from items related to their courses or websites of interest. Yet obviously for success in college exams and IELTS, they need reading practice - and that's the problem - introducing any kind of reading!
How familiar or unfamilar is reading for pleasure these days?
Heather
Tue, 04/07/2009 - 13:09
#9
Hi Everyone
It's something of mistery really because we are always saying that people don't read and in my experience this is true. I know people how never open a book to read for pleasure. On the other hand, the book industry keeps growing and growing and in the UK alone thousands of fiction books are published each year.
I think we should perhaps make a distinction about the reading we 'prescibe' to our learners and the reading for pleasure they do on their own. I have a 19-year old son and I can see that he and his friends are avid fiction readers of literature but we have to consider, in John McRae's words, literature with small 'l' - mangas, graphic novels, fantasy, short stories, online reading and video game reading.
Yes, video game reading! Do you know that some more sophisticated games such as J-RPGs and Metal Gear Solid have entire books of hundreds of pages embedded in the game plot and that you have to read them to get to know the whole story?
Perhaps we have to review our concepts of reading. Food for thought.
Cheers - Chris
Hi Mostafa
Already in Cardiff and replying to you from the hotel in a short break from the Hornby meeting :)
I think you should first see what we understand by literary criticism and critical reading, and, further ahead perhaps, critical literacy. I truely believe one can help and be integrated to the others and, in spite of the differences between them, see how we can make use of them in language teaching.
I wrote an article about literary criticism and reading practices for the last LMCS newsletter, it may interest you.
Cheers -Chris