Joint Effort Urged In Boosting Reading Ability: Thailand

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Joint effort urged in boosting reading ability

SURIYAN PANYAWAI

THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- Parents, teachers and the government can all play a vital role in overcoming the dismal track record in reading by Thai children - less than five books a year, academics said yesterday.

Parents should promote a reading habit among their children when they are still young, while teachers should make Thai language studies both fun and educational and the government should ensure access to quality books for underprivileged kids, the Quality Learning Foundation seminar heard.

Assoc Prof Wittayakorn Chiangkul, head of a research project for the "100 books that youths should read", said it was imperative to motivate children to read more. Most people view fiction as being for leisure reading when in fact fiction is a great help in promoting youths' reading habits, he said.

The book list, which is available at www.QLF.or.th, is divided into three age groups according to interest and comprehension.

Picture books with easy-to-read content are for small children aged up to 6 years. Books that youths could joyfully relate to that have more life-reflecting content but are not too depressing or violent are for those aged 6 to 12.

Books with a variety of content and more complicated plots but that use simple and clear language are for teenagers up to 18. The recommended books - mostly fiction, as they were more appealing to youths than academic books - would be accompanied by the project committee's advice in terms of the advantages and weak points for future development in book writing.

Thailand doesn't develop enough good books for small children, though at this age they have the best opportunity to develop a love of reading - especially 4-year-olds.

Citing the National Statistical Office report in 2008 that Thais over 6 spend 39 minutes a day reading books outside school or work, with youths reading the most at 46 minutes, he said this was low compared to other countries.

Besides, it was reported that Thais read about five books a year while Vietnamese read 60 books, Singaporeans 45 books and Malaysians 40 books. Citing the Thai children's low PISA test scores, ranking 50th out of 65 participating countries, he urged the government to promote reading and teachers to adjust classroom methods, making lessons fun and engaging rather than focusing only on grammar.

Committee member Preeda Panyachan said Thailand produced more children's and youth books than other Asean countries, as Myanmar, Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam focused on remaking folk tales, while Malaysia and Singapore imported books as they had widespread English literacy.

Vietnam was an interesting case study in the benefits of translating foreign books and improving folk tales to be universal to stimulate youths' love of reading.

Thai readers were still among the well-to-do and educated group, so the state should have measures to ensure the availability of books for poor kids, he said.

-- The Nation 2012-10-26

[sirchai]

Thailand doesn't develop enough good books for small children, though at this age they have the best opportunity to develop a love of reading - especially 4-year-olds

Thailand doesn't develop enough good books for all ages.----

[Lannatyne]

Having just returned to UK, I'm noticing a few changes in my child's education, even having gone to an Int School in Thailand.

The focus here is on read, read, and more read. She's getting through 5 books a week, never mind 5 a year, and really enjoying it. Sits in her booster seat in the back of the car, and just reads while we're out.

I even queries the rationale of this with the school, and it's because : "if the child can read, they can do anything". Now, that's a good way of looking at it. they can understand maths and science problems better, research own solutions in books and internet, and gives confidence in all-round understanding the written word.

In the past, I've seen job applicants who can't fill in forms, just because they don't understand them.

It also reminds me of one thing in Thailand which always amazed me - the inability of a person to even fill in a credit slip to put money in the bank. How many times have I seen a person (not old and decrepit, either) wander to the cashier without any clue of how to fill in such a simple form.

For sure, i think reading is the mainstay of a population.

[Scott]

I agree with you 100%. Unfortunately, a lot of the emphasis is on speaking, speaking, speaking.

What's the old saying: we spend the first year of a child's life encouraging them to walk and talk and the next 18, telling them to sit down and shut up!

[khaowong1]

I find many Buddhist monks who have a hard time reading. They are taught to read the chanting books, but beyond that, barely. I've been a voracious reader most of my life. You can learn many things just reading a book. Heck, I'm a top competitor in trivia games. In my circle of friends in the US, I've never been beaten. Just saying.. Just read, it's amazing what you can learn. Even if it's just trivia. What was Howdy Doody's sister's name? Anyone?

[Scott]

Ditty Doodey?

[thunder30101]

How do you read for 39 or 46 minutes a day and only finish 5 books a year ? Must be some big comic books.

[Scott]

I read about the same amount of time and I don't get through 5 books. There are magazines and newspapers as well.

[thunder30101]

Citing the National Statistical Office report in 2008 that Thais over 6 spend 39 minutes a day reading books outside school or work, with youths reading the most at 46 minutes, he said this was low compared to other countries.

Besides, it was reported that Thais read about five books a year

[Narratio]

Got agree with prior comment. If you can read you can find your solutions to problems by yourself. A population that cannot read has limited research ability and thus is usually willing to accept whatever it is told by the local talking head. Whether that's a religious preacher or a politician or some sort make not difference. Lack of education leads to herd mentaility.

But, Howdy Doody? American puppet show for kids, sometime in the late 50's or early 60's? Didn't know he had a sister, just Buffalo Bob, but then again I'm a Brit, so I've never seen the show, just picked up references to it from comics, books etc.