(SKKN 2022) Developing reading culture for 12th graders in Ngoc Lac Ethnic Boarding High school via the teaching of Unit 11. Books - English 12

The benefits of reading range from improving mental health, to improving physical health, to creating healthy habits, and it’s no wonder that books and reading are so high up on the list

THANH HOA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION AND TRAINING

NGOC LAC ETHNIC BOARDING HIGH SCHOOL

-TEACHING EXPERIENCE

AT NGOC LAC ETHNIC BOARDING HIGH SCHOOL VIA THE TEACHING OF UNIT 11 BOOKS- ENGLISH 12

Writer: Triệu Thị Đào Position: Teacher Topic in the fields of: English

THANH HOA, 2022

2.4 Effectiveness of the research

3 CONCLUSION

12 14

1 INTRODUCTION

1.1 Rationale

“A reader lives a thousand lives before he dies The man who never reads lives only one.”said George R.R Martin, an American novelist and

short-story writer, screenwriter, and television producer He is the author of the series

of epic fantasy novels A Song of Ice and Fire, which was adapted into the Emmy Award-winning HBO series Game of Thrones[1] The quote shows us the importance and meaning of reading books in life Reading is important to us because it not only develops our thoughts but also gives us endless knowledge and lessons while keeping our minds active Books can hold and keep all kinds of information, stories, thoughts and feelings unlike anything else in this world The benefits of reading range from improving mental health, to improving physical health, to creating healthy habits, and it’s no wonder that books and reading are so high up on the list of personal entertainment[2].Also,there are other quotes about

the value of reading books such as “The man who does not read has no advantage over the man who cannot read.”(Mark Twain) [3]; “Reading is a discount ticket to everywhere”(Mary Schmich) [4] and so forth

However, due to the explosion of Internet, computers and smartphone, the declining of reading culture among students of high chools, tertiary and higher learning institutes in particular is alarming and threatening the realization of ‘a well educated and learning society Overreliance on teachers’ and tutors’ notes, reading for examination, poor tendency of individual reading, and total dislike of reading beyond the examination scope are among the major manifestation of the declining reading culture in many schools and universities of Vietnam In Ngoc Lac Ethnic Boarding High school, when asked whether they liked reading or not, many students frankly answered that they didn’t even want to read if they didn’t have to take an exam There are few students go to the library to borrow or read books Many of them go there just to surf the Internet or play computer games If not addressed, this situation may escalate and jeopardize the hopes of creating learning environment in Ngoc Lac Ethnic Boarding High school

As a teacher of English with more than ten years of teaching experiences,

I realize the seriousness of the matter during my working with students, especially when teaching Unit 11 Books (English 12) I am deeply aware of my responsibilities in teaching students knowledge and skills when using English and

at the same time encouraging students to read more which not only brings them knowledge and relaxation but also inspire and develop reading culture among students Because of this reason, I have decided to do this research named:

Developing reading culture for 12 th graders at Ngoc Lac Ethnic Boarding High school via the teaching of Unit 11 Books - English 12.

1.2 Aims of the research

I believe that learning English not only means learning such skills like reading, speaking, listening an writing but it also means learning about people and the world around us through the messages hidden in the lessons This study has been designed to investigate grade 12 students’ attitude towards reading and reading culture in this day and age and suggest some solutions to increase reading culture among the students in Ngoc Lac Ethnic Boarding High school In general,

it has three main purposes:

Firstly, it aims at finding students’ attitude towards reading and reading culture They may answer some questions such as “Do you like reading? Why or why not?”, “If yes, what kind of books do you like reading?”, “How do you read a book?”, “When do you often read books?”…Secondly, it is to investigate the impact of dwindling reading culture on students Finally, it is to provide some pedagogical suggestions for teachers to teach the related lesson effectively and have connection to the school students in reality

1.3 Subjects of the research

Subjects of the study and survey of this topic mainly focus on the students that I am teaching for the time being I started the survey in the beginning of the school year The total participants were 54 students from two classes (12A2 and 12A5) in Ngoc Lac Ethnic Boarding High school, which is situated in Ngoc Lac, a mountainous district in Thanh Hoa province Out of the 54 participants, there are

14 male students (25.9%) and 40 female ones (74.1%) participating in the study The large gender disparity is caused because male students often have to drop out

of school to earn living and help support the families The majority of students are ethnic minorities from disadvantaged families in poor districts of Thanh Hoa province Consequently, their motivation and learning goals are remarkably limited, which directly affect their passion for knowledge and reading culture

1.4 Methodology of the research

To make my solutions more effective, I have used the following methods Firstly, I always consult my colleagues about the matter I am researching

Secondly, I constantly study, reform and produce new teaching methods such as conducting a survey, organizing competitions or activities, using images, pictures, posters, real objects, etc

Thirdly, I apply science and technology in teaching, use projecters, presents films, video clips to make the lesson actively For example, I show a short video clip about Book and Reading Culture Day in Vietnam and in the world before the lesson to motivate the spirit of studying among students

Lastly, I gather information, analyze it and evaluate the results

2 CONTENTS.

2.1 Theoretical basis of the research

2.1.1 What is reading?

There are many definitions of reading that have arisen in recent decades and

it seems to have no fixed definition for this term

- Reading is a process undertaken to reduce uncertainty about meanings a text conveys

- The process results from a negotiation of meaning between the text and its reader

- The knowledge, expectations, and strategies a reader uses to uncover textual meaning all play decisive roles way the reader negotiates with the text's meaning

Reading does not draw on one kind of cognitive skill, nor does it have a straightforward outcome—most texts are understood in different ways by different readers (https://www.coerll.utexas.edu/methods/modules/reading/01/)

According to Urquhart and Weirt in William Grabe (2009:14), stated the Reading is the process of receiving interpreting information in language from via the medium of print According to Johnson ( 2008:3), Reading is practice of using text to create meaning

Based on the definitions , the researcher concludes that reading must develop, so the reader can understand the meaning of passage and also catch the meaning of the text

(https://eprints.umm.ac.id/35712/3/jiptummpp-gdl-junaidin20-47994-3-chapter-i.pdf)

Reading is a multifaceted process involving word recognition, comprehension, fluency, and motivation Learn how readers integrate these facets

to make meaning from print

(https://www.readingrockets.org/article/what-reading)

Reading is the process of taking in the sense or meaning of letters, symbols,

etc., especially by sight or touch.[10][11][12][13]

For educators and researchers, reading is a multifaceted process involving such areas as word recognition, orthography(spelling), alphabetic, phonics, phonemic awareness , vocabulary, comprehension, fluency, and motivation[14] [ 15]

Other types of reading and writing, such as pictograms (e.g., a hazard symbol and an emoji), are not based on speech-based writing systems.[16] The common link is the interpretation of symbols to extract the meaning from the visual notations or tactile signals (as in the case of Braille).[17]

(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reading)

What is Reading? Reading is the process of looking at a series of written symbols and getting meaning from them Reading is a mental process in which someone looks into a written text and starts to absorb 4 the information from the written linguistic message Reading entails the use of vision to understand several words in a sentence and make them meaningful (https://www.ukessays.com)

Accordingly, Howley (2015) sees the act of reading as a creative process in which the reader constructs reading by interacting with the text It is a process of interaction between the reader and text In the world of Ariffin (1992), defines reading as a highly personal activity that is mainly done silently alone This implies that reading is something related to the activity of acquiring information and it is done either silently or aloud The major avenue of learning is through reading according to Mariam (1991), reading means or implies that if we do not understand what we are reading, we cannot learn or remember it Just as is reading, the journey of a lifetime starts with the turning of a page, reading is the sole means

by which we slip in voluntarily often helplessly into another skin, another voice, another soul (Joyce Carol Oates, 2004) To read is to exercise the brain and increases the chances to assimilate better

(https://www.researchgate.net/publication/

335856610_Reading_Culture_Benefits_and_the_Role_of_libraries_in_the_21st_ce ntury)

2.1.2 What Is Reading Culture?

Reading had been described by Ngugi and Mberia (2014) as one of the oldest habits of human civilization It is the identification of symbols and association of appropriate meaning with them(Palani, 2012) It involves word recognition, comprehension, engagement and fluency Reading is a cornerstone for success not just in schools but throughout lifetime Through reading, we acquire new ideas and knowledge, obtain needed information, relax the minds, and improve our command of language and vocabulary It also serves as a good companion that provides pleasure,expand our horizons and enrich our lives

Reading does not only increases our knowledge, but it also builds maturity and character, sharpens our thinking, and widens our awareness in social, economic, political, and environmental issues It also helps in mental development and is known to stimulate the muscles of the eyes One of the major means of acquiring information is through reading It is an irreplaceable weapon for all - round growth and the fulfillment of one’s potential Reading is the foundation upon which other academic skills are built Reading is a very essential way of learning and achieving any global academic breakthrough (Hassen, 2016) It was asserted by Tella and Akande (2007) that the ability to read is at the heart of self-education and lifelong learning and that it is an art capable of transforming life and society According to Nweke (1990)

reading has important roles to play in the development of the individual Reading

is the key tounlocking future success (Inderjit, 2014)

Reading culture, on the other hand, is the process of acquiring a positive reading attitude among students and children over a length of time (Gbadamosi, 2007) When an individual regularly reads books and other materials such as magazines that are not necessarily required for him to advance in his profession or career, he is said to have a reading culture However, it is a fact that youths of today, in Nigeria, for instance, lack interest in reading They prefer to spend hours

on the social media, chatting, browsing the net, and all sorts of other things hours

on end, thereby, making reading a book or any other piece of written material to seem to be an archaic idea for most youths (Eke, Omekwu & Odoh , 2014)

Kojo, Agyekum and Arthur (2018) postulated that if one develops the culture

of reading regularly, then good reading culture has been formed This is because a habit is formed unconsciously when an individual does something many times, and

it then becomes a normal part of their life According to him, many students do not belong to the category of those with a good reading culture; but, they rather prefer

to be on social media than spend time acquiring

knowledge through reading

(https://www.researchgate.net/publication/348490561_Dwindling_Reading_Cultur e_In_The_Internet_Era_And_The_Imperative_For_Lifelong_Reading)

2.1.3 What are the benefits of reading culture?

Benefits of Reading Culture: As Individuals

- Increase in memory: reading slows down the rate of memory deterioration.

Those who read live longer, their brain function is heightened With the help of reading, ones’ memory is enhanced in the sense that it exercises the muscles of the brain and new memory is created as the brain strengthens and sharpens the memory Ultimately, reading improves your brain, as the memory increases, it makes one smarter and more intelligent However, the act of reading helps to heighten the brain function and increase/improve memory

- Discipline: reading makes an individual to be disciplined by obeying certain rules

and standards It helps control one’s thought, emotions and actions It helps one to achieve their goal in life Adding reading to one’s daily schedule improves discipline

- Vocabulary: is another benefit of reading as it improves speaking skills and

makes you a better speaker Reading improves your vocabulary When you read continuously, it creates room for continuous learning Learning is a life-long process In fact, reading is fun!

- Creativity and skills: reading can make one think creatively; the reader will

have good creative thinking skills which will lead to better performance in his/her academics In fact, it enhances the critical skills of concentration and focus It also helps to widen the brain’s creative side and filters innovative thinking process into one’s brain

- Knowledge: Knowledge itself is power! (Francis Bacon) The more you read, the

more informed you become The more knowledge you gain, the more powerful you become This can be handy at any time because knowledge gained can never

be lost

Benefits of Reading Culture: National Level

- It enhances educational growth and development of the nation.(Ten (10) benefits

of reading: (https://www.cc-pl.org)

- Mental stimulation – your brain requires exercise to keep it strong and healthy,

just like muscles in your body Reading has been found to enhance connectivity in the brain function is a sole effect of aging, but regular reading may help slow the process of Alzhiemer’s disease and dementia (a progressive disease that destroys memory and important mental functions)

- Stress Relief – the distraction into the literacy world allows you to distance

yourself from the stress of everyday life, putting your mind and body at ease

- More sleep - sometimes it is hard to fall asleep when your mind is racing and

busy worrying about a variety of things Reading, even if for ten minutes, can help push whatever was keeping you awake out of your mind

- Education: - education is not cheap Classes, seminars and educational software

are just a few of the ways that you can pay to learn things However, reading books from the library is free!

- Better memory: reading requires you to use your memory muscle, helping the

muscle long term

- Increase empathy – reading requires us to sympathize with character’s

emotions Being emotionally transported by a book has shown to cause boosts in empathy

- Improves concentration- when reading you are concentrating on one thing by

doing so, you are training your body to avoid distractions This ability can help when performing other tasks that require concentration

- Entertainment – reading is much cheaper than going to the movies or many

other forms of entertainment In fact, reading is free at the library! We are constantly adding new books, so you never have to worry about running out of ones that you haven’t read Books can transport you to different worlds without paying airfare

- Vocabulary expansion- the more you read, the more word you are exposed to.

Reading is contagions- exposing friends to your reading habits can be a great way

to help encourage them to pick up a book If you have children in elementary school, consider reading loud to them even if they can read on their own

(https://www.researchgate.net/publication/

335856610_Reading_Culture_Benefits_and_the_Role_of_libraries_in_the_21st_ce ntury)

2.2 Reality of the study

Previously, when teaching unit 11 Books , I usually just let students discuss and answer the questions and exercises in the textbook Students only needs to complete the tasks that presented in each lesson Therefore, after each lesson they can remember some new words and do related exercises However, except for doing the tasks in the textbooks, most students rarely study and read more books

on their own They have not been proactive in getting knowledge from books and newspapers This makes the children become such machines that only memorize

the knowledge the teacher has imparted, but lack thinking, creation, and development for new ideas

At that time, I realized that, apart from imparting knowledge in textbooks to students, I needed to encourage their self-study spirit by reading different types of books by themselves ,contributing to the improvement and development of reading culture in among students

Before applying this new teaching method, I conducted a small survey to determine students’ attitude towards reading culture The questionnaire was administered to 54 students They were multiple choice questions Students were asked to circle the letter A, B, or C next to the answer that best described their feelings towards the statement at the moment All the questions were written in Vietnamese to guarantee students’ accurate understanding as well as their full confidence in their responses shown in Appendix A

2.3 Solutions

The research focuses on encouraging students to spend more time reading books, so I apply different methods to inspire students’ spirits of reading To get good results, I organize three activities: book description, outdoor reading, and classroom library What these three activities have in common is that they require students to find the good books, so they have to read the books carefully before they introduce them to other students Through these activities, children gradually sprout and develop their love of reading

2.3.1 Book description

One week before holding this activity, I asked my students to do the

assignments: In five minutes, tell the class about a good book or story you have read Each student told about a different book or story Students must not tell the

same story The books or stories that students choose must not be included in their textbooks Students were encouraged to use pictures, objects or projectors to make their presentations more interesting

Student can use the following guidelines to make up the presentations

- What is the title of the book/story?

- Who is the author?

- What type of book/story is it?

- Where is the book set?

- What is the main theme of the book/story?

- Who are the main characters?

- What is your opinion of the book/story?

Here are some pictures about students’ presentations:

Student 1: “Les miserables”

Les miserables is a novel written by a French writer, Victor Hugo It was published in 1862 The work is considered one of the most famous novels of world literature of the 19th century

Les miserables is the story of French society during the first 20 years 19th century, since the time when Napoleon I ascended the throne and several decades later The main character of the novel is Jean Valjean, a former convict who seeks

to atone for the mistakes made in his youth The novel series not only talks about the nature of the goodness, badness, and law, but the work is also a massive encyclopedia about the history, architecture of Paris, politics, philosophy, law, justice and creed of France in the first half of the 19th century

The story is about Jean Valjean ,who raised a young grandson Because of poverty, one day he had to steal bread He was arrested and sentenced to five years in prison After failing to escape four times, he was imprisoned for fourteen years After many ups and downs of life, Jean Vanjean also gained a bit of status in society, but not with the old name Jean Vanjean Now his name was Madeleine, the mayor of a small town, loved and respected by everyone In Madeleine's factory, there is a worker name Fantine Because of having an illegitimate child, she was hated by the supervisor and sent away but Jean Vanjean didn’t know at all When she was about to die, Mr Madeleine knew of her injustice, he promised to take care of Cosette

Just then, in order to save another person who was wrongly accused, John Vanjean confessed to the court his truth Again he was imprisoned, and this time he escaped By the revolution of 1832, he fought outside the barricade alongside republican soldiers After the revolution was extinguished, Vanjean still encountered many unjust tribulations At that time, Cosette became a beautiful young girl She met Marius, thanks to the sacrifice of Vanjean, they were married