International Literacy Day is celebrated on September 8, 2020.
Literacy is usually seen as the ability to read and write.
But literacy includes many more components.
UNESCO’s definition of literacy is ‘a means of identification, understanding, interpretation, creation, and communication in an increasingly digital, text-mediated, information-rich and fast-changing world.’
But literacy is a complex and changing concept and is interpreted in a multiplicity of ways.
This article focusses on the benefits of reading — one of the key components of literacy.
Reading is the foundation of most forms of learning activities.
Consider this, if you can read this, you are more fortunate than millions of people in the world today who can’t.
Many experts believe that reading should include reasoning, involving the interpretation of words, phrases and sentences using critical and analytical thinking — questioning and evaluating what is read.
A good reading habit is necessary for healthy intellectual growth.
There are many types of reading.
Some scan searching for key words, some skim to look for an overview of the text, some do light reading at a pace which feels comfortable to them, some read word by word and some read to study in detail and depth.
The past 20 years have seen dramatic changes in the field of reading.
Previously, much reading was done via books, magazines, newsletters, newspapers and other written materials.
The growth of internet and communications technology (ICT) has heralded a shift in how reading material is distributed, accessed and read.
A lot of reading happens via computers, laptops, tablets and mobile phones nowadays.
Reading is the key that unlocks the mind to think and feel about what is going around us in terms of knowledge dealing with political, economic, social, cultural and spiritual issues.
It helps us to become smarter and brighter in understanding ideas, concepts, theories and situations.
A prominent feature of reading is that it builds concentration and attention skills.
Joseph Addison (1672-1719) very aptly captures the essence of reading; ‘Reading is to the mind what exercise is to the body.’
We read to discipline our mind to behave in a particular way; to fill the mind with knowledge, skills, attitude and experience; to calm the mind in times of stress, conflict and tension; and to recreate the mind for relaxation and enjoyment.
Reading plays a very important role in the development of our children very early in life and parents should continue to encourage them to read as early as possible.
Children who read for pleasure have active imaginations, are creative and enjoy learning.
Reading helps improve vocabulary, concentration and communication skills, and the ability to understand things and situations.
Books are not the only source of reading materials.
One should develop the habit of reading from any source available, be it religious pamphlets given out on in churches, comics in newspapers, travel brochures, product catalogues, etc.
For example if you are having a drink of coke or sprite, have a look at the ingredients — check the amount of sugar contained in the drink.
Likewise when you are drinking fruit juice, have a look at the ingredients – check the amount of sugar contained in the drink.
By comparing the amounts of sugar in each drink, you can make a wise choice on which drink is better for health.
Every piece of written material can give us some knowledge and it may be of use sometime later in life.
So it is a good idea to read anything and everything wherever there is an opportunity.
Many things you read register in your mind as new bits of information and knowledge, and you never know when it might come in handy.
The more knowledge you have, the better-equipped you are to tackle any challenge you will face.
Most importantly, reading opens the pathway to your future career and helps you to fulfill your ambitions
in life, for instance, becoming a doctor, pharmacist, engineer, businessman, sports person, farmer, nurse, artist, writer, and so on.
Reading can stimulate and excite your imagination and curiosity.
Reading can teach you new skills, ideas and give you a new positive outlook on life.
The more you read, the more words you gain exposure to, and this will improve your vocabulary.
Reading can help you to feel better.
Books can be our teachers, mentors and inspirations.
In our internet-crazed world, attention is drawn in many different directions at once as we multitask
through every day.
When you read a book, all of your attention is focused on the story, and you can immerse yourself in all the details that you are reading; the rest of the world is put away from the mind.
Reading well published and wellwritten works have a positive and motivational effect on one’s own
writing, as reading the writing styles of other authors will surely influence your own work.
It is possible that the subject you read about can bring about immense inner peace and tranquillity.
There is a reading genre for every person, and whether you enjoy classical literature, poetry, fashion
magazines, newspapers, biographies, religious texts, self-help guides, or romance novels, there
are different books to capture your curiosity.
Reading is also one of the cheapest forms of entertainment.
Reading can also help you solve your problems.
Many of the answers and solutions to our problems can be found or solved by reading.
Reading religious and spiritual books can bring about an immense sense of calm, while selfhelp books has been shown to help people suffering from depression and anxiety disorders.
Reading inspirational stories or reading what people have already achieved can give you the motivation
and encouragement to succeed.
There are many health benefits associated to reading.
The benefits reading gives your health are double edged.
First you can acquire the appropriate information which can help you to improve your health.
Secondly if you read on a regular basis it can help you to relax and quieten your mind which in turn can help you reduce your stress levels.
Reading is a great way of taking the focus of attention of your everyday troubles and worries away for a while as reading transports you to places, dream worlds and cultures that are unknown.
In times of misfortune, or if you are in low spirits, just pick up a motivational book and it will provide
comfort and give you positive and uplifting direction.
There is a need to promote and nurture reading culture in schools and universities, not only among
students, but also among teachers and lecturers.
Promoting reading habits
The following recommendations are made to improve reading;
- Establishment and support of libraries: Efforts must be to establish more libraries in schools, towns and cities. All stakeholders in should provide libraries with good reading materials.
- Improved Funding: Funds is crucial to the development of education and libraries. The school or
university needs to allocate an affordable budget annually for equipping the library with a wide range of reading materials. - Associating reading with pleasure: Children and students can be motivated to read and thus form
good reading habits through storytelling, reading together (shared reading), formation of reading/
book clubs as well as provision of conducive reading environment devoid of noise and distractions.
A teacher can share his/her ideas and lessons learned from a book to stimulate interest in students.
Another way of introducing fun in reading is by reading together.
Parents, teachers, and children can read aloud at home, in the class or library.
- Encouragement of library usage: Teachers should encourage maximum use of the library and
its resources by giving students assignments/projects that would require frequent visits to the library. This may entail reading a magazine article and summarizing it, or using the library resources to research a current topic such as the COVID-19 pandemic.
Every course of study is accomplished through reading.
Reading is the building block to learning.
Once people experience the joy of reading, then it opens the lock to greater learning in developing
their knowledge, skills and attitude, which in turn, will unlock their future career path.
Francis Bacon (1561-1626), the English essayist, comments very clearly on the value of reading
in his famous essay, Of Studies: “Reading maketh a full man; conference a ready man; and writing an exact man. So keep on reading.
- Bhagwanji Bhindi is a lecturer at the School of Language, Literature & Communication of the College of Humanities and Education at Fiji National University. The views expressed are the author’s and not necessarily of this newspaper.
