Education Learn Strategies To Promote Reading At Schools
By Nasroul Hizam

Bandar Seri Begawan - More than 200 primary and secondary school teachers turned up at the Civil Service Institute, (IPA) for a seminar to promote better reading in schools.

Orrganised by TA & Morgen Distributors, the one-day event was conducted by Michael Cahlil, senior product manager of Cengage Learning, a publishing firm, who delivered refreshing insights into strategies and techniques that teachers can employ to make reading activities in classes enjoyable.

The speaker and trainer has had six years experience teaching in Taiwan and the United States and said that the seminar was particularly for reluctant readers.

Having toured Asia, promoting reading, he will also be dropping by Korea and Japan after his visit to Brunei.

Yesterday was his third visit to Brunei as he showed those present how the PM Nelson,

Dragonflies, Foundation Reading Library and National Geographic Footprint Reading Library can improve the reading skills of the reluctant and slower readers in the schools. Demonstrating how to raise levels of fun in the classroom, Cahlil used audio tracks, videos and activities.

Among specific strategies that he shared with those present were visual organisers, activity sheets and video activities.

He said that the books he used during the seminar were useful, especially as they are of high interest for low abilities.

Having had experience being a teacher himself and talking to

numerous teachers from various countries, he said that English language teachers have common complaints which include classes that are too big, needing more resources, mixed-level classes which have huge gaps in abilities and interests, and that their students are not interested in reading.

He pointed out that current research shows that reluctant readers usually have low self esteem, blame outside factors rather than themselves, overcome with a sense of hopelessness and eventually become skilled evaders, using clever tactics to get away from reading. He said that motivating students is an important factor to consider when promoting reading. He suggested that teachers reinforce and set goals for their students, while keeping a high level of relevance." "Students normally respond only when they find that something is important to them," he said.

The variety of books that Cahlil used during the seminar was also made available by TA & Morgen Distributors.-- Courtesy of The Brunei Times

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