La lectura y los dominicanos
Posted 03-02-2008 at 05:29 AM by Lesley D
Reading is essential if one wishes to grow intellectually and spiritually. During our formative years in school we are not given the option to read books of our choice. Our academic curriculum is chosen for us. However, outside of the classroom we can read books of preference to further enhance our intellectual growth. As adults are choices become infinite, endless. There is no excuse to not read.
Some of the benefits of reading at a young age include oral competency and fluency in language, an enhanced vocabulary, grammar enrichment, better spelling and language proficiency. These are just a few benefits that reading offers. Reading on a regular basis is brain exercise and even more beneficial if you read consistently in more than one language. The experts say those who read regularly have better memories. I believe there is truth in that statement.
Is reading cultural? I think it is. What influences a person's desire to read? Why is reading more common among the population in some countries and not others? Specific to Latin America- los dominicanos tienen mala fama. Es que el dominicano no lee. La verdad duele. Sin embargo, es la realidad. This article en Hoy Digital (http://www.hoy.com.do/article.aspx?id=143782 ) is about the number of bookstores that have disappeared in SD. In a country with population that is known not to read should anyone be surprised? What affect does this have on the population and what can be done to encourage Dominicans to read more?
Other Latin American countries have been proactive in promoting reading and have made books accessible to the population. In Colombia, Argentina and Costa Rica reading is promoted by the government thus a vital part of educating its people. A country is judged by the education of the masses. It's scary to think where the DR ranks. One of the biggest steps towards a bright and prosperous future of the DR is encouraging parents to send their kids to school and equal education of the masses not a metro. The government needs to compare its education to more successful Latin American countries in this field and step up to the plate and "solve" the problem. "E pa'lante que vamos" won't work in country with a mediocre educational system at best. Adopt the Panamanian lema- Leer es crecer.
ldg.
Some of the benefits of reading at a young age include oral competency and fluency in language, an enhanced vocabulary, grammar enrichment, better spelling and language proficiency. These are just a few benefits that reading offers. Reading on a regular basis is brain exercise and even more beneficial if you read consistently in more than one language. The experts say those who read regularly have better memories. I believe there is truth in that statement.
Is reading cultural? I think it is. What influences a person's desire to read? Why is reading more common among the population in some countries and not others? Specific to Latin America- los dominicanos tienen mala fama. Es que el dominicano no lee. La verdad duele. Sin embargo, es la realidad. This article en Hoy Digital (http://www.hoy.com.do/article.aspx?id=143782 ) is about the number of bookstores that have disappeared in SD. In a country with population that is known not to read should anyone be surprised? What affect does this have on the population and what can be done to encourage Dominicans to read more?
Other Latin American countries have been proactive in promoting reading and have made books accessible to the population. In Colombia, Argentina and Costa Rica reading is promoted by the government thus a vital part of educating its people. A country is judged by the education of the masses. It's scary to think where the DR ranks. One of the biggest steps towards a bright and prosperous future of the DR is encouraging parents to send their kids to school and equal education of the masses not a metro. The government needs to compare its education to more successful Latin American countries in this field and step up to the plate and "solve" the problem. "E pa'lante que vamos" won't work in country with a mediocre educational system at best. Adopt the Panamanian lema- Leer es crecer.
ldg.
Recent Blog Entries by Lesley D
- Las mil formas del español- (11-13-2008)
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