Educational researchers have found that there is a strong correlation between reading and academic success. In other words, a student who is a good reader is more likely to do well in school and pass exams than a student who is a weak reader.
Good readers can understand the individual sentences and the organizational structure of a piece of writing. They can comprehend ideas, follow arguments, and detect implications. In summary, good readers can extract from the writing what is important for the particular task they are employed in. And they can do it quickly!
Educational researchers have also found a strong correlation between reading and vocabulary knowledge. In other words, students who have a large vocabulary are usually good readers. This is not very surprising, since the best way to acquire a large vocabulary is to read extensively, and if you read extensively you are likely to be or become a good reader! “The man who doesn’t read good books has no advantage over the man who can’t read them.” - Mark Twain.
The ability to read is generally regarded not only as the basis of education but also as an essential possession of the citizens of civilized countries. Of all the valuable skills the average person learns in his life time, the ability to read is the most important since it is the most universal and the most useful for everyone today.
Strang (1967) says, “Reading proficiency is the royal road to knowledge; it is essential to the success in all academic subjects. In modern life, learning depends largely upon one’s ability to interpret the printed page accurately and fully.”
Reading helps the individual to understand society and his role as a citizen, as a worker and individual with his own personal needs and problems.
Reading involves the whole personality, promising countless personal and social values. It is essential for fuller personal development and enrichment of life.
Reading is one of the most rewarding uses of the expanded leisure that comes as a result of automation. Reading provides experience through which the individual may expand his horizons; identify, extend, and expand his interests, and gain deeper understandings of himself, of other human beings, and of the world.
Reading has social significance in the modern world. The democracy of any country can survive only if the people of that country achieve a certain general level of reading competence.Russell (1949) has rightly said, “A good general level of reading ability is essential to the working of democracy.” Reading is, no doubt, a potent force for national integration.
Some of the importance of reading is as follows:
1. Reading develops a person’s creativity. Unlike movies where everything is determined by the producer, writer and director, books allow students to create in their minds how a particular character looks like or imagine how a scene plays out. Reading a book therefore, allows a student to exercise and cultivate her/his creative thinking skills.
Developing good reading skills can improve students’ ability to comprehend concepts and ideas.
Reading develops critical thinking, thus, ensuring that students will be able to think and make good decisions for themselves.
Ones’ fluency in a language and, consequently, communication skills are improved by reading.
Reading introduces students to new things and has the ability to broaden their interests. A student who reads a biography of Albert Einstein for example, may be inspired to take his high school Physics class more seriously.
Reading regularly increases the vocabulary.
Reading can develop positive values in students. According to a study conducted in the United States for example, students who learn to read by the time they are in third grade are less likely to take drugs, drop out of school or end up in prison.
One of the main problems of today’s students is their inability to concentrate on their lessons (a result of their shortening attention span.) A solution to this problem is to encourage students to read. According to studies, reading increases a student’s ability to concentrate.
Developing students’ reading and comprehension skills early on in their education also means that you are preparing them for the “real world.” Being able to read well means that they would have no problem understanding manuals, guides or contracts – vital documents and papers they will surely encounter when they join the work force.
Spelling improves when words are seen in print.
Reading also improves students’ writing skills as they are able to “subconsciously acquire good writing style.”
No comments:
Post a Comment