Reflecting on my own reading habits, I recently found out that they have sadly changed 😞.
I used to read at least a couple of books a year and now I really struggle to read one during the summer holidays!
Since I started working, I tend to focus more on work or spending my free time with others, rather than enjoying my free time by myself with a good thriller, as I used to. I still read of course, because I love it, but I usually choose online, short texts related to news or specific things I am curious about sometimes. For example, I ask myself while watching the news: How do USA elections work? and look for it online to find a nice short article that explains it 💻
I miss my student days, when I spent hours reading at the local library, especially when I was abroad. Libraries in the UK or the USA have places like that in the picture, where you can comfortably seat and relax to enjoy reading a book before you take it home on loan.
I usually choose texts in English (either books, magazines, online articles or even cooking recipes!)and only choose texts in Spanish when looking for a newspaper or a Spanish blog, for instance, because I like to practise and learn English through reading. And, even though a normally access texts online because it's quicker and easier, reading a good book on paper rather than online is a real pleasure for me 😍.
When reading now, I think most people choose short, online texts since they are easier to access. Nowadays, people read more magazines, Internet articles, texts on social media or even subtitles in series and films, rather than whole books as we used to do long ago 📖. Some people only read books just because they are told to, for example at school. Is that you?
If you enjoy reading books, you can start by finding a graded-reader that matches your interests and reading it in your free time however you like. Here are some titles that Burlington Books have:
If you prefer something easier, you can find many webs to practise reading where you can choose shorter texts that you like. Here are some examples you can start with:
Remember that reading subtitles also work! But you have to choose English subtitles whenever yo are watching a film or your favourite series on Netflix or Prime. You can stop the video if you find interesting new words to look them up in the dictionary 🔍
- What's your favourite type of text?
- When do you prefer reading?
- Do you prefer online or paper reading?
Tell me your thoughts about reading in the comments below! I'd love to read YOU 😊
Lucky those who still have time to read!! In my case, I also miss the days when reading a book was just a question of a day or two. Nevertheless, I do read. I read instructions for the new lamp I've just bought, headlines on TV, recipes when I want to impress some friends with some international dishes, funny jokes on social media, I even read blog entries in a new course I'm taking and a novel from time to time. Different types of text but still READING
ReplyDeleteI truly appreciate the honesty that your words reveal; and that is what makes the reading process magical, for me. I feel hook up with your text.
ReplyDeleteAs you, I can hardly find the time to read for pleasure either; and I definitely try. However, there is too much 'busy'work within our educational system nowadays . This prevents me from devoting time to reading; I deem my mind should be fresh and relaxed to read for pleasure. Anyhow, I do like you: I read online journals or reports since I can do it almost anywhere and at any time.
Technology has definitely changed our reading habits not only as professionals, but also as social beings. For good or for bad, we have surrendered to virtuality. Our times are fast and brief. That is an enough reason to excel as educators in order to provide our students with a critical and responsible criterion . In so doing, they can avoid manipulation when choosing a source of information.