Reading Strategies: What makes reading an enjoyable experience.

This hub is in continuation with the other Reading Strategy hub of mine. I will elaborate on the other reading strategies that can be employed to enjoy a work of literature. While in the other hub i elaborated on the types and genres of books and the reading strategies that must be applied to them them, in this hub i will concentrate on some external factors that determine our reading experience. I will also, catch up on a few points that i left unexplained in the previous hub.

In the previous hub there was a reference to the ability of a creative reader to be able to classify the books and authors according to varied parameters and to know the time their reading will be best suited.

Time and mood are very important factors when it comes to reading, understanding and enjoying a work of literature. Sometimes we are not yet ready for the book we choose. The concept of growing on books is applied in a narrow sense when we classify books as children, adult and likewise. When in fact books can be categorized for readers at yet many stages of development, not necessarily physical but psychological, cognitive and emotional.

As was referred to the two kind of texts in which literary works can be classified: The Readerly and the Writerly, it is important for a reader to go through the phase of reading the Readerly texts to come to the next level of Writerly texts. It is only by swiftly moving from one experience to another can we make sense of both, a sudden leap into the more complex books will only prejudice the reader against the genre and will take him/her away from any attempts he/she might make into reading and enjoying the canonical and seminal texts.

The other way of looking into the time perspective is to talk about it in literal sense of word. I first read about something called Night books and Day books in a novel The Unbearable Lightness of Being by Milan Kundera (Read my Review of the book here). Whether or not we consider Kundera's character as his mouthpiece and delve into this classification with reference to Kundera's thought and philosophy is solely a different issue, but to concentrate on the dialogue and the context in which it emerges will be an interesting insight into the topic under discussion. Such a categorization may seem vague and off the mark, but cannot, must not be ignored as it is a source of interesting insight and discussion

The central character of Kundera's novel, Tereza talks of her time preferences when it comes to reading. So much so that she goes on to categorize books as day time books and night time books. She says It was there that I began to divide books into day books and night books, she went on. Really, there are books meant for daytime reading and books that can be read only at night (105). Well, Kundera leaves the debate to his readers as there are no other references to it in the novel.

Many serious and voracious readers might agree with Tereza.Truly there are books that have a certain distinct quality about them which makes them time specific. Don't we often have people categorizing books as winter read or summer read, weekday read or a weekend read and likewise. These are just ways to enhance the reading experience.

If you happen to pick up kundera, Grass, Kafka, Marquez, Doetovsky among others you would sure want to read them at night, have time to ponder about what you read, re-read it and delve into that web of interpretations and may be, it happens, would like to write before getting to the task of reading again. You wouldn't want yourself to be disturbed as you delve into the many possibilities of interpretations that transpire. And then there are other books that you read just for the fast moving plot, just because you must, just because you don't feel like doing any other thing, you might go for a day time read.

Reading postures is yet another aspect that governs the way we read and enjoy reading. I can only enjoy reading with my pillow comfortably adjusted on my back, without my parents and friends nagging me to sit straight or else I'll strain my eyes. It is one of these reasons i am very particular about the time and mood when it comes to picking up a book for next read.

I have always found reading scriptures or other Hindu religious texts problematic, not because of the language or any other formatting problems but the fact that my mother always insists on reading them sitting in a particular posture. If you have to read Ramayana you must sit on the red colored rug with the text placed in front of you. This is a very difficult feat for me to accomplish and i have never gotten myself to read the text and completely enjoy it.

Similarly i enjoy poetry only when i can read it aloud or have someone read it to me. When for some reason i have to read it silently without tapping my hand to the rhythm, i lose interest and understand or feel little of what is conveyed.

Audio Books and e books have changed the way we read today. To read a text/book displayed on the computer screen makes reading an entirely different reading experience. Many people still prefer reading books in hard copies. Listening to an audio book might make reading a lesser personal experience. When we have words read to us, there are other implications that come along. The tone of the voice, the accent, the pitch makes the implications of the writer clear and leaves little to the listener to comprehend and create. It can either enforce or hinder your reading/listening experience.

Source: http://hubpages.com/hub/readingstrategy BY: tinarathore84

The Importance Of Reading

It is a well-known fact that when there were no televisions or computers, reading was a primary leisure activity. People would spend hours reading books and travel to lands far away-in their minds. The only tragedy is that, with time, people have lost their skill and passion to read. There are many other exciting and thrilling options available, aside from books. And that is a shame because reading offers a productive approach to improving vocabulary and word power. It is advisable to indulge in at least half an hour of reading a day to keep abreast of the various styles of writing and new vocabulary.

It is observed that children and teenagers who love reading have comparatively higher IQs. They are more creative and do better in school and college. It is recommended that parents to inculcate the importance of reading to their children in the early years. Reading is said to significantly help in developing vocabulary, and reading aloud helps to build a strong emotional bond between parents and children. The children who start reading from an early age are observed to have good language skills, and they grasp the variances in phonics much better.

Reading helps in mental development and is known to stimulate the muscles of the eyes. Reading is an activity that involves greater levels of concentration and adds to the conversational skills of the reader. It is an indulgence that enhances the knowledge acquired, consistently. The habit of reading also helps readers to decipher new words and phrases that they come across in everyday conversations. The habit can become a healthy addiction and adds to the information available on various topics. It helps us to stay in-touch with contemporary writers as well as those from the days of yore and makes us sensitive to global issues.

Reading provides detailed information on Reading, Home Reading, Reading Glasses, Reading Comprehension and more. Reading is affiliated withEducational Games. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Damian_Sofsian

The Benefits of Reading.

For many, reading has many benefits that continue to enhance their lives. Their lives are bettered in some the following ways: mentally, spiritually and sociality. Also, if we develop a habit reading will we become more confident and self assured in abilities to comprehend and understand all types of information. Let's further examine some of the benefits of reading.

One of the other main benefits of reading is that it exercises your mind. Your mind begins to bend and flex mentally, It stays lose and limber so to you can flow easier through the course of the day. The regular routine ensures that the reading muscle stays in good shape as well as the mind. Just like physical exercise, there has to be a determination to make reading part of your life. If you understand the many benefits of reading, you will have no trouble adopting a regular habit of reading.

Reading has other benefits to the regular reader which is the ability to focus. When the mind is trained and channeled, it begins to pay attention more thoroughly. For example, when you are faced with some of life's difficult and challenging assignments, you will have the ability to stay calm and objectively look at the problem, circumstances or required task. If you continue to read, you continue to stay focused; bottom line.

There is perhaps no greater avenue to learning then through reading. All people, great and small, have learned more things by reading then practically anywhere other way. When we continue to read, we have the ability to expand our minds tremendously. We review the pages of knowledge left by those who came before us. We than begin to add to the knowledge as the cycle of humanity continue. The regular routine reading has positively chanced the course many peoples' lives.

Finally, when we develop a practice a habit of reading, we are building solid foundation on which to build. This foundation of reading will allow us to accomplish many goals and ambitions we have for our lives. Our habit of continuing to read helps to ensure we will continue to succeed. Reading has a long and distinguish track record for establishing positive and lasting benefits to humanity.

I retired from United States Navy in 2003, after serving over 21 years of enlisted active duty onboard several different ships and a few shore assignments. I am married. My wife and I have two daughters. We have two dogs, Chow Chow's, to be exact. I have a Bachelor of Science degree in Liberal Arts (Focus area Psychology) from Excelsior College class 2004. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Daniel_Belcher

LITERACY RATE IN THE PHILIPPINES.

One view is that the literacy rate has risen from 72% to 90% in the last 30 years. According to the 2005 Functional Literacy, Education, and Mass Media Survey conducted by the National Statistics Office (NSO), 48.4 million or 84% of the estimated 57.6 million Filipinos who are 10 to 64 years old are said to be "functionally" literate (Source: "8 out of 10 Filipinos are functionally literate" by D. Pepito, TODAY newspaper, February 17, 2005).

But what is functional literacy? The NSO defines it as a higher level of literacy which includes not only  reading and writing skills but also numerical and comprehension skills. In other words, one that is limited only to the basic knowledge of reading, writing and arithmetic.

Functional literacy was found to be higher in females by an average of 4.8 percentage points than in males. Significantly however, it was found that functional literacy arose in those areas that were economically well-off. In fact, the top six regions with average family income were found to have the highest functional literacy rates. They are: NCR (94.6%), CAR (85.4%), Calabarzon (90.4%), Ilocos (88.6%), Central Luzon (86.9%), and Cagayan Valley (84.4%).

ARMM had the lowest average family income and corollarily the country's lowest functional literacy rate as well at 62.9%. Areas with passable literacy rates (and low family income) were found in Eastern Visayas (76.7%), Zamboanga Peninsula (74.8%), Davao (77.8%), and Soccskasargen (77.1%).

Yet, by correlating the existence of literacy with economic well-being, one cannot but help allow some doubt to seep in. If 80% of Filipinos are functionally literate, does it follow that 80% of them are also economically well-off? Apparently, the NSO thinks so. But this goes against other statistical data by the Asian Development Bank, Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism, and the same NSO itself that there is a growing incidence of poverty in the country due in part to uncontrolled population growth.

Specifically, the Philippines was found to have one of the highest poverty incidence rates in Southeast Asia pegged at 15.5% with poor people living at less than one (1) U.S. Dollar a day or at Php 32.00 a day, which percentage is lower than Laos (39%) and Cambodia (34.1%) but higher than Vietnam (13.1%) and Indonesia (7.5 %). In other words, in the year 2004 around 40% of Filipinos were poor. That's 40% of approximately 80 million Filipino individuals, or thirty two million (32,000,000) people. In 1995 there were 4.36 million families who were poor. By 2000, the estimate was 5.14 million families or over 31.2 million people.

As of 2004, the NSO reports that the population of the Philippines is at approximately 80 million. About 57.6 million are adults aged 10 to 64 years old. Of this 57.6 million, 32 million live below the poverty level of Php 32.00 a day. Could we say that this impoverished 32 million are "functionally" literate? Not by a longshot if we follow the NSO theory that one's economic stature is determinative of one's level of literacy.

Philippine Star columnist, Jarius Bondoc, says it best:

"Poverty rates only reflect changes in relative prices not changes in underlying incomes or wealth. Considering this, the Philippines is an atoll of a high-income class, an island of a middle-income class, and a vast sea of low-income class. This has been the case since 1960 when the country had a 27 million population in 4.4 million families, as it was in 2000 when the country grew to 76.5 million (2.8 times) in 15.3 million families (3.5 times)" (Source: "40 Years of Failure" Gotcha column by Jarius Bondoc, Philippine Star, January 10, 2005).

Factoring even the rising cost of goods and services without any significant increase in individual and national income, compounded by a 26% unemployment rate, and the increasing rate of professional or "literate" Filipinos leaving the country as Overseas Foreign Workers (OFWs), it is indeed doubtful that there are 80% Filipinos who are economically well-off and corollarily, functionally literate. If we are to subscribe to this NSO theory that one's economic stature is determinative of one's level of literacy, then it follows that more Filipinos are actually illiterate or at least on the way to illiteracy.

The reality speaks for itself. Tuition fees in private schools nowadays have progressively soared such that many Filipinos have either stopped schooling or have reluctantly transferred to public schools. Only the economically well-off elite few can afford the high tuition of private schools.

The public school system is not faring any better either. KAAKBAY CDI (Citizens Development Initiative) a non-government cause-oriented organization announced that public education in the Philippines is in distress. Fewer than 1% of Filipino students are qualified for high school or college level education due to lack of resources and poor management of the public school system by the government. Worse, only 19 out of every 100 public school teachers were found competent to teach English. (Source: "Only 6 out of 100 Grade 6 Pupils ready for High School Study" by Sandy Araneta, The Philippine Star, August 17, 2005)

According further to KAAKBAY CDI, poverty in the Philippines has reached a point where education is no longer a right for all but a privilege for the few. Elementary and High School in the public school system was furtherfound to have failed in teaching the requisite competence an average citizen needs to know and ought to possess at a young age in order to become responsible, productive, and self-fulfilling human beings. To quote the article:

"Education as a way to equalize opportunity has become a myth, because while the rich have a variety of choices offered by private institutions, the poor have to make do with a public education system characterized by dilapitated school facilities, lack of materials and textbooks and technological incompetence." (Source: Ibid)

There is indeed some credence if we are to correlate one's economic stature with one's level of educational attainment. And in light of the country's present economic plight, it is hard to believe, much less conclude, that 80% of Filipinos are functionally literate. The reverse is probably true.

But just for the sake of argument, let's accept for the moment the NSO claim that most Filipinos are functionally literate. Is this any better?

Source: http://universityconsortium.multiply.com/journal/item/8

How to Instill the Love of Reading – In Your Child, or Yourself by Leo Babauta

How to Instill the Love of Reading – In Your Child, or Yourself

by Leo Babauta. January 21, 2009 

A teen-ager wrote to me the other day, asking how he could build the habit of reading — he spends too much time on Facebook and playing video games.

The short answer: read amazing, fun, exciting, lovely books that you just can’t put down!

I’ve been a lifelong reader, so the pleasure of a good book is one of my favorite things in the world. I love to lose myself in the world of a novel, to become best friends with a character, to curl up in the silence of the early morning or late night hours, wrapped in the deliciousness of a book.

I think many people approach reading the wrong way: they try to force themselves to read, and see reading as a difficult and tedious chore. Well, if that’s how you look at reading, no wonder you don’t have the habit!

Instead, see it as a wonderful thing. Reading is a joy. It is a time of peace, of adventure, of exploration, of just enjoying a good story. If you learn to love reading, as I do and as many others do, it’s not really a habit you have to develop — it’s something you look forward to doing each day.

On Reading Being Good For You
First let’s take a look at a deeply entrenched concept: that reading is wholesome and healthy and Good For You. Well, I think it is, but is it inherently better than any of a thousand other activities? Maybe sometimes.

Is reading a book better than playing outside? Better than a good conversation? Better than exploring websites on a topic that excites you? Better than exploring nature? Better than playing sports? Better than drawing or painting or playing music or dancing?

I don’t think so. I think each activity has its own benefits and pleasures.

Is reading better than watching TV? I tend to believe it is, if learning is important to you, but not necessarily so if pleasure is your main concern. Both activities can be pleasurable in their own way.

Is reading better than playing video games? This will be controversial, but I’m not so sure it is. Read this article for more about the learning advantages of playing video games.

Reading might be better than many activities if your main concern is educating yourself and improving your chances of succeeding in various careers. However … reading is more than a means to an end … reading is an end in and of itself. It’s a joy, and that’s how you should approach it.

If you gain a side benefit of becoming better prepared for school and life, well … so much the better!

Reading and Children
Many parents are concerned because their kids aren’t readers. Well, I wouldn’t worry so much. What’s more important is that you are loving and compassionate towards them, that you instill a love for learning (by any means) and give them the tools they need to explore whatever they’re excited about.

How do you do that? By not forcing them to learn, but by being a role model for them and showing your enthusiasm for learning, by exposing them to all kinds of exciting things and talking with them about it and learning about these things together (when they’re interested), by helping them explore things that excite them (whatever those things are).

However, if you’d like them to learn the love of reading you yourself have, there are things you can do that are consistent with the philosophy in the paragraph above.

Start by reading to your child. You can start from the moment he’s born (or earlier), but whenever you start is good. Read fun books, exciting books, adventurous books. Here’s a good place to start: Best All-Time Children’s Books.

Make reading fun. Make it a time of bonding between the two of you. Make it something your child looks forward to doing each day. Do not make reading a forced thing — encourage it, make it fun, don’t force them to read if they don’t want to.

Make it a routine — do it at the same time(s) of day, in the same place, such as at night in bed or in the morning in a favorite chair or couch — because children find comfort in routines.

Also make it a habit to go to the library regularly — and read with your child there. Help your child find books that interest her. Visit used book stores (and new bookstores too).

Provide a variety of reading materials for your child, about topics she’s interested in. Lots of books, lots of magazines, websites, etc.

And be a model — read yourself. Do it every day, and let your child see how much you love reading. He’ll pick up on it.

Finding Amazing Books
Whether you’re trying to instill the love of reading in your child or yourself, the key is in finding books that you just can’t put down. If you find that, the rest is easy.

Easier said than done? True — every person will have different preferences for authors, genres and so on. You can’t just read a definitive list of books online, start from the top, and work your way down.

That said, you can start with my lists of amazing books:

·         50 Amazing and Essential Novels to Enrich Your Library

·         20 Amazing and Essential Non-fiction Books to Enrich Your Library

That’s just a start, of course. Check out sites such as GoodReads to see recommendations from others based on books you know you like. Explore books at the bookstore or library — just pick up a book and start reading for 10-20 minutes and see if it grabs you. Sometimes a good book takes a little while to develop, of course, but many great ones will hook you from the first page and keep you going from there. Read more: 20 Ways to Get Free or Cheap Books

For the aforementioned teen who is looking to develop the habit of reading, I can recommend some of my favorites from my teen-age years (or thereabouts):

·         The Catcher in the Rye

·         To Kill a Mockingbird

·         Watership Down

·         The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy series

·         Piers Anthony’s Xanth fantasy series (starting with A Spell for Chameleon (Xanth, Book 1))

·         Terry Pratchett’s Discworld series (starting with The Color of Magic)

·         Lord of the Flies

·         The Giver

·         The Hobbit and the Lord of the Rings series

·         The Chronicles of Narnia

A couple really popular ones my teen or pre-teen kids have enjoyed recently include the Twilight series, Inkheart, Bridge to Terabithia, Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, Eragon and of course, Harry Potter Paperback Box Set (Books 1-6).

The Habit of Reading
If you’re serious about creating the habit of reading, what’s important is finding a time you can read every single day — often that’s early morning or late at night (or both). For others, it might be during their lunch break. You only need to read for 10-20 minutes a day to form the habit.

Also find a place that’s comfortable, and read there every time. Make sure it has decent lighting, that the temperature is nice, that you’re in a good chair or couch or someplace that you can relax in without falling asleep (although there’s nothing wrong with sleep).

Be sure to shut off distractions such as the TV, Internet, phones, Blackberry or iPhone, radio or other music. Let reading be a quiet tim.

In forming habits, you want to be as consistent as possible. So mark an “x” on your calendar every day you do the habit, and try to keep your unbroken streak of “x”es going as long as possible (Jerry Seinfeld’s trick).

A habit is much easier to form if it’s something you enjoy, not something you’re forcing yourself to do. So make the time you spend reading a joy — see the next section.

“We shouldn’t teach great books; we should teach a love of reading.” - B.F. Skinner

The Joy of Reading
The habit of reading is not as important as the joy of reading. As a bonus, though, if you discover or nurture the joy of reading, the habit becomes much much easier.

How to you discover the joy of reading? Well, start by finding amazing books, as I discussed above. If a book bores you, move on to another. Find a book with a main character you love, doing things that excite you or give you joy.

But beyond the book itself is everything else that surrounds you — where you sit, how quiet it is, how comfortable you are. You want the experience to be as pleasurable as possible. For some, that might be reading while taking a hot bath (reading in the shower is more difficult). For others, that might be with a hot cup of tea or coffee. For still others, it’s reading in the park, near a river or lake or ocean, on their front porch as the sun rises.

Whatever works for you, but make it something to look forward to.

Don’t force yourself to read — do it because it’s fun and enjoyable. If you treat it like a chore, it will feel like one. If you treat it like a treat, that’s what it will be. Make reading a voluntary thing, a hobby, a passion.

Learn to immerse yourself in the world of a book, and forget about the world around you. This is related to being in the moment, or finding the state of Flow — time seems to disappear, and nothing else exists but your book.

If you have kids or grandkids, read to them. Snuggle up close on the couch or bed, and read a good book. It’s great quality time, and it helps you enjoy reading more as well. Reading chapter books, such as BFG or Matilda or the Hobbit or Harry Potter, is a great experience for both child and adult.

You might also try reading groups in your area, or discussion groups online. Discussing a book is a great way to make reading fun, to motivate yourself to read, to get deeper into a book.

Finally, consider a reading log or journal, if you enjoy things like that. It can be fun to look back on what you have read, and writing in a journal is a great way to reflect on what you’ve read and amplify the joy of reading.

source:  zenhabits.net