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fromtheuk
Joined: 31 Mar 2007
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 Posted: Tue Apr 15, 2008 12:04 am Post subject: Story books for adults |
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Just before I left work today, a 'friend' of mine in the V.P.'s office asked me if I knew of any story books for adults (with related questions).
I said I'd find out, so fellow posters, do you know of any? |
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SpiralStaircase
Joined: 14 Feb 2008
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| Posted: Tue Apr 15, 2008 12:26 am Post subject: aesop's? |
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What exactly do you mean by adult storybooks?
If you're talking Green Eggs and Ham for adults I would suggest a book of fables/myths/folklore. Short stories that hint on universal archetypes. Adults won't be put off by the content. Lots of good discussion.
Aesop's fables would be a good fit. |
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fromtheuk
Joined: 31 Mar 2007
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| Posted: Tue Apr 15, 2008 12:33 am Post subject: |
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| Thank you. |
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ddeubel
Joined: 20 Jul 2005
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| Posted: Tue Apr 15, 2008 1:40 am Post subject: |
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On our story page, there are all sorts of stories appropriate for adults. But many more in the leveled readers of the A/V player (try it out without joining on the main page - just click iPod, )or on the BookNook resource site. Just find it at EFL Classroom 2.0. Most, just click and play. Level readers have .pdf handouts. Also all the A-Z leveled readers in the media fire storage which are good with adults. But I like the video books which have some really interesting adult content like about Lance Armstrong or Building a house etc.....
DD
http://eflclassroom.ning.com |
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OiGirl
Joined: 23 Jan 2003
Location: Hoke-y-gun
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| Posted: Tue Apr 15, 2008 1:57 am Post subject: |
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| Do you mean children's storybooks to be read by adults, or adult novels? |
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SuperHero
Joined: 10 Dec 2003
Location: Superhero Hideout
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| Posted: Tue Apr 15, 2008 2:00 am Post subject: |
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If you are looking for novels for adult language learners then you should direct them to graded readers. All major ELT publishers have their own series.
I use Oxford Bookworms with my university students. |
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kimchikowboy
Joined: 24 Jan 2003
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| Posted: Tue Apr 15, 2008 2:57 am Post subject: |
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| Quote: |
| If you're talking Green Eggs and Ham for adults I would suggest a book of fables/myths/folklore. Short stories that hint on universal archetypes. Adults won't be put off by the content. Lots of good discussion. |
I did Green Eggs and Ham this morning for pronunciation with a group of Chinese grad students. They loved it!  |
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ddeubel
Joined: 20 Jul 2005
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Ya-ta Boy
Joined: 16 Jan 2003
Location: Established in 1994
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| Posted: Tue Apr 15, 2008 4:54 am Post subject: |
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| Quote: |
| I use Oxford Bookworms with my university students. |
My (adult) students frequently ask me about books to read, so I'd like to know more about this.
Does any bookstore in Seoul carry a selection of these books? |
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SuperHero
Joined: 10 Dec 2003
Location: Superhero Hideout
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| Posted: Tue Apr 15, 2008 1:17 pm Post subject: |
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| Ya-ta Boy wrote: |
| Quote: |
| I use Oxford Bookworms with my university students. |
My (adult) students frequently ask me about books to read, so I'd like to know more about this.
Does any bookstore in Seoul carry a selection of these books? |
All the major bookstores with English sections.
Also check out the graded readers by cambridge, macmillan, and pearson longman. They're all good. The average freshmen is ready to read a level 3 or 4 book - a few can reader higher levels. The key with the graded readers is to read for enjoyment. If there is more than 1-2 unknown words per page then the book is too difficult and will require the use of a dictionary which will slow down reading and make it ineffective for language learning. |
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Atavistic
Joined: 22 May 2006
Location: How totally stupid that Korean doesn't show in this area.
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| Posted: Tue Apr 15, 2008 4:18 pm Post subject: |
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| SuperHero wrote: |
Also check out the graded readers by cambridge, macmillan, and pearson longman. They're all good. The average freshmen is ready to read a level 3 or 4 book - a few can reader higher levels. The key with the graded readers is to read for enjoyment. If there is more than 1-2 unknown words per page then the book is too difficult and will require the use of a dictionary which will slow down reading and make it ineffective for language learning. |
I understand this thought, I really do. When I taught in the States I taught my (elementary) students the five finger rule (more than 5 unknown words on a page meant it was too hard). However, if a reader is MOTIVATED, they should not be discouraged. Young kids all over the world read Harry Potter books but the reading level on those is considered quite high.
Also, if a student has background knowledge in their own language, a higher-than-average book on that topic will often be fine. (I had a student my first year who came to school knowing three words of English. Her native language was French. I gave her the Dairy of Anne Frank in French for Christmas. After reading it, she read every single book in our school library about Anne Frank. Her reading level was about a 2nd grade level at that time, but she really liked reading ALL of the books, because she had that background knowledge.)
I think it's really important to teach students to a) read what they want to and what they LIKE and b) to not rely on a dictionary. As long as they're getting the gist, they don't NEED to look up every word.
I think a problem is that few people seem to learn to read for enjoyment in Korea. I mean, look at the OP's question. "[W]ith related questions." Arrrggggg! |
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SuperHero
Joined: 10 Dec 2003
Location: Superhero Hideout
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| Posted: Tue Apr 15, 2008 5:24 pm Post subject: |
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| Atavistic wrote: |
I understand this thought, I really do. When I taught in the States I taught my (elementary) students the five finger rule (more than 5 unknown words on a page meant it was too hard). However, if a reader is MOTIVATED, they should not be discouraged. Young kids all over the world read Harry Potter books but the reading level on those is considered quite high.
Also, if a student has background knowledge in their own language, a higher-than-average book on that topic will often be fine. (I had a student my first year who came to school knowing three words of English. Her native language was French. I gave her the Dairy of Anne Frank in French for Christmas. After reading it, she read every single book in our school library about Anne Frank. Her reading level was about a 2nd grade level at that time, but she really liked reading ALL of the books, because she had that background knowledge.)
I think it's really important to teach students to a) read what they want to and what they LIKE and b) to not rely on a dictionary. As long as they're getting the gist, they don't NEED to look up every word.
I think a problem is that few people seem to learn to read for enjoyment in Korea. I mean, look at the OP's question. "[W]ith related questions." Arrrggggg! |
I encourage you to learn about extensive reading. This is all about reading for second language learners which is different than first language readers.
for reading to be truly effective learners need to know 95% of the vocabulary in a text and most research now leads to 98% coverage. |
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ddeubel
Joined: 20 Jul 2005
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| Posted: Tue Apr 15, 2008 5:29 pm Post subject: |
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These links might be handy for those discussing in this thread.
http://eflclassroom.buzka.com/Reading_Stories
Also Frank Smith has written some great stuff about reading and literacy in general -- of course we have Krashen........
My own recommendation about the 5 fingers rule is that it should be modified for ESL/EFL learners. 2 or 3 max. The goal is to get the input in without the objective processing of text. Lots more about Extensive reading in the above links.....
But so important to get them reading -- they just don't get enough opportunity to speak/listen so this is crucially important in Korea.
DD
http://eflclassroom.ning.com |
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kimchikowboy
Joined: 24 Jan 2003
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| Posted: Tue Apr 15, 2008 5:38 pm Post subject: |
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Thanks, ddeubel.
Actually, we used this one:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rorhQLhNz4U
And I have already found some Fox in Socks vids for later. You wouldn't know where to find "Horton Hears a Who" with text, would you? |
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Atavistic
Joined: 22 May 2006
Location: How totally stupid that Korean doesn't show in this area.
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| Posted: Tue Apr 15, 2008 5:48 pm Post subject: |
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| SuperHero wrote: |
I encourage you to learn about extensive reading. This is all about reading for second language learners which is different than first language readers.
for reading to be truly effective learners need to know 95% of the vocabulary in a text and most research now leads to 98% coverage. |
I have read a hell of a lot about reading. Reading in a first language, reading in a second language. I am sure you are aware that the reading "experts" do not all think one thing, right?
I am not trying to ENCOURAGE teachers to give students hard text. I just don't want teacher to DISCOURAGE students who are willing to read more difficult texts--students who want to because they enjoy reading whatever they're reading.
The OP is not teaching this coworker. The coworker seems to want to read something for themselves. All reading does not have to be "effective." |
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