Job Discussion Forums

chichifo · Joined: 01 Jun 2007 Posts: 29

The figure of one book per year is not accurate, actually I do not know where it came from as there had not been a proper national survey on that matter until 2006. In the national survey, they found the average Mexican reads 2.9 books a year.
It is not a surprise that in the poorest Mexican states (Chiapas, Veracruz, Oaxaca and Yucatan) people read less. However, I found it really interesting that in the largest cities (Mexico City and Guadalajara), people read less too because of the lack of time. I always believe that people in places such as Mexico City, where there�s a lot of political awareness going on people tend to read more. Maybe there they read more newspapers and use more internet? I think that�s my case, I read academic stuff (mostly articles) and a lot of newspapers online. And If I�m not wrong the last fiction book I read was three years ago. How would I be represented by the national survey? At the end, I think it�s more important to know what people read than the amount of books the average Mexican reads, IMHOP.

http://melvinrivera.com/2006/11/28/encuesta-revela-que-los-mexicanos-leen-muy-poco/

In the US, this is the panorama.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/08/21/AR2007082101045.html

GueroPaz · Joined: 07 Sep 2007 Posts: 216 Location: Thailand or Mexico

My 14-year-old Vietnamese neighbor (from a big, poor, refugee family) in Houston was sitting on his uncle's car, reading a book....in French! My Korean students have their homes packed with books in Korean and English. When my daughter studied for her M.Ed., she read that academic success can best be predicted by...not family income...not race...but by the number of books in the home. Here in Thailand, we complain that most Thais do not read anything, anywhere, ever. I did not see much reading being done in rural areas of Chiapas, but I went to a book fair in Comitan.

The internet may not be the ultimate savior, but for those who have virtually unlimited access to the net, it is a reader's paradise. It may not equal One Hundred Years of Solitude, but that book put me to sleep.

TheLongWayHome · Joined: 07 Jun 2006 Posts: 1016 Location: San Luis Piojosi

Wasn't there a campaign a while back in Mexico City when they put books on the subway, free for people to read? I heard they just got stolen of course but a good idea nonetheless.

I'm not surprised Mexicans don't read. Mexican kids just get plonked in front of the telly from an early age and are not really encouraged to read. Most of my students, when asked what they did at the weekend, will tell me that they watched TV all day or watched an entire TV series on DVD.

Samantha · Joined: 25 Oct 2003 Posts: 2038 Location: Mexican Riviera

LWH wrote:

geaaronson · Joined: 19 Apr 2005 Posts: 948 Location: Mexico City

So, as long as we�re on the subject, let�s turn the direction of the discussion back to ourselves. Who reads what and where and how much among all the posters on this message thread? How many books a year do you read, magazines, internet pages and where do you do your reading? How much nonfiction do you read and what is the quality of the fiction? What do you read that is of greatest interest to you? Any special topics that you go back to time and time again? What would you like to read and study more about but can�t find enough time or available information about?

dixie · Joined: 23 Apr 2006 Posts: 644 Location: D.F

I agree that to judge one�s reading on how many novels they complete is not fair, and does not mean that a person does not read. I may be misquoting (as the info is third hand), but for me the reality is that there is an issue with reading (and writing - few people are good writers if they are not strong readers).

So many people are stuck on public transportation here every day that it�s amazing there isn�t more reading. I never see kids reading, or being read to; besides myself I hardly see any females reading, and most men are reading the Grafico or perhaps just checking out the naked woman, or mutilated murder victims. Still, reading something, anything, is better than nothing.

NY had a neat idea (not sure if they continue it) where they put poetry on the metros so that people were exposed to both reading, and to the genre. To me something like that would work well here, esp. as putting books on to borrow only invites stealing (I mean, if they cannot even keep cemented down garbage cans from going missing, an easily pocketed book is not going to be hanging around long).

Bottom line is that we are hoping to be able to create a project that is meaningful, and where we can all learn. We just need to figure out the best way to do it! Smile

geaaronson · Joined: 19 Apr 2005 Posts: 948 Location: Mexico City

Yes, I agree with you almost totally, Dixie. Considering how much time Mexicans spend travelling to work and school, I am often surprised how few read in public. But I have seen older people, (my age) read Paul Coelho, fuentes, and Paz on the subway. I have also seen some people read gunter Grass, The Tin Drum, and lately I have seen two people read Los Hornos de Hitler!!! For some reason, there has been considerable interest here in the German Holocaust.
I once saw a young university student work in the metro on her architectural rendering homework of a prehistoric Celtic home for a UNAM class!!!
So, yes, I am disappointed as well as to the lack of intellectual curiousity. But there are people out there who are well read, it`s up to us to find them and befriend them.

Jetgirly · Joined: 17 Jul 2004 Posts: 741

The students at the prepa I taught at used a Spanish for Foreigners book in their Communications class, and read abridged versions of novels and plays (in Spanish) for their Literature class. I also saw a multiple choice FINAL EXAM with this question (in Spanish):

Hamlet was a:
a) man
b) dog
c) castle

If literature is approached with that much depth, and if students aren't challenged to speak/read/write more Spanish than a self-studying foreigner, I'm not surprised reading isn't a popular hobby!

FreddyM · Joined: 05 Jan 2006 Posts: 180 Location: Mexico

I see people reading in the Metro all the time, especially university students, including some real heavy duty tomes, not just El Grafico and stuff like that. I've also seen those free book handouts on the metro as well...they're not always there, but every once in a while they pop up. I've never taken one, thank goodness my commute is short enough now I needn't worry about what to do while stuck in the tube for a long period of time.

My first year living here I did have a long and horrendous commute to work. In the mornings I'd sleep until I got to my destination, and in the evenings I used to listen to audio books. I got through quite a few of them stretched out throughout the year. It was mostly non-fiction pop science type material. Downloaded off the internet. Smile

I still have tons of audio books and pdf's of books I'd like to get through some day, just haven't really found the time. And I lost my mp3 player as well, so I don't have any convenient way of listening to material.

So now I just mostly read stuff online, clicking here and there. Does Dave's count towards my reading total?

MikeySaid · Joined: 10 Nov 2004 Posts: 509 Location: Torreon, Mexico

Where I noticed that reading anything other than a textbook is a bit uncommon was in two places... bookstores and writing.

I read several papers by my fiancee's students at the UAC and couldn't believe how horrible their writing was. It was so bad that I had to ask her, "is this written really poorly or is it just that I'm a gringo and don't get it?"

Her response was, "no, it sucks"

It's been my observation that people who write a great deal are more likely to express themselves well when they put pen to paper.

Someone how/what we read...

I'm typical probably... I read 3 books in a week, and then don't read any for 6 months. Or I'll whittle away chapter by chapter at a book (100 years of solitude is under my pillow) until I finally finish it.

The last books I read completely (I have a hard time finishing them, it's like saying goodbye to a friend) were:

Tulitas of Torreon - Interesting non-fiction relating turn of the century life in Torreon.

AND...

The Teachings of Don Juan -(so the people my age know...) non-fiction again, about yaqui drug induced mysticism from the 60s or 70s...

My inability to write anything fluid is probably indicative of how much I read and where I read most of the time lately.

hlamb · Joined: 09 Dec 2003 Posts: 431 Location: Canada

I read a lot, always have. I also write a lot and i definitely think the two are connected. I read just about anything: novels, newspapers, National Geographic, biographies, history, political commentary...you name, I read it (just about). I agree with whoever said that home life plays a role. Both my parents read and my older brother does as well. Most of my extended family reads too. Therefore, it's considered weird NOT to read.

Guy Courchesne · Joined: 10 Mar 2003 Posts: 9650 Location: Mexico City

hlamb · Joined: 09 Dec 2003 Posts: 431 Location: Canada

dixie · Joined: 23 Apr 2006 Posts: 644 Location: D.F

So we have decided to scale back our intentions, and for now our students will do their community service through on-campus organizations. We are doing this as there are a variety of obstacles that we just do not have the time to overcome before the school year begins. However, this will be the first year of the overhaul, and we will learn, and grow from it.

So . . . I now have another question. It use to be that students would write an essay, and give a short presentation on where they volunteered, and what they did. But, let�s be honest, it is quite boring, and doesn�t really stir up the emotions, and interest that we want the students to develop (or nourish) in relation to helping M�xico address, and someday solve, the very real, every day problems that exist. So, does anyone have any suggestions on a final semester project that the kids could do?

I have only come up with a couple so far, and am not sure if I like them, or exactly what the guidelines would be.

- create a fund raising campaign for a relevant issue
- create ads that promote awareness of a relevant issue
- create an event / organization for a relevant issue

. . . and that is all I have. I just want something that is more engaging for the kids, so that they can enjoy the task, and be (hopefully!) inspired by it!

Jetgirly · Joined: 17 Jul 2004 Posts: 741

Warning: I always think BIG!

What about a fundraising dinner? The students could design a poster that advertises an organization/cause/charity that they are interested in, and the school could hold a dinner where they have the chance to present their cause and explain why people should donate to it. The audience (students, families, whatever) could be given a certain amount of play money that they could distribute as they please (just not to themselves / their own child). At the end you could see who raised the most "money" for their cause, and people could have the chance to donate real money to a real cause.

Or something.