[Lucia Barbu - Teacher Trainer]

I have been teaching English to young students for 30 years and I have noticed that it is more and more difficult to make my students read books.

I have tried all the techniques I have heard about but unfortunately my students have less time for reading and they prefer going out or playing games on PC. They seem to have no interest at all in fairy tales, classical writers, contemporary writers and so on.

I wonder what will happen with the future society if people are less and less informed in literature, history and civilisation.

Shall I insist on it or shall I give up ?

[Chirnicinii Carmen]

Good question!
For me this is a major problem both as a teacher and as a parent. I spent my adolescence reading late at night and I can`t understand why the teenagers aren`t attracted by books. The internet, in my opinion, can`t substitute reading. No way!!!!!!!!

[Vasilica Popescu]

I have been teaching young children for thirty years, too and I have noticed that this generation of school children doesn't like reading books. They prefer watching TV or playing computer games. I think that many teachers and some parents are worried because children watch too much television or prefer playing computer games. A child watches TV or plays computer games because he finds it more interesting than anything else. Children get all the information they need from TV. So do a lot of parents. They get the information from radio and TV, too. They speak to their friends on the telephone (they don't write letters). The parents are very busy. They haven't enough time for their children or for reading literature. Most of them read only newspapers or magazines. They are less and less interested in reading literature. Most of them think that it is important to read books, but it isn't a tragedy if they don't do it. I think that teachers should insist on making their students read fairy tales, classical or contemporary works.

[Andreea]

I wonder what will happen with the future society if people are less and less informed in literature, history and civilisation.

There are many resources for us to learn from, on the Internet, I think Books will be totaly replaced with the computer.

The internet, in my opinion, can`t substitute reading. No way!!!!!!!!

Why not?

Internet is a form of reading too.

If I want to read about something for school or for my pleasure, I search on the web, find it and read it.

Books were in the past like computers now. Then, if You wanted to have some fun alone and get informed, You read a book, now, You just turn on your computer and search for what you need.

[maxluis]

Very Helpful Forum and quite an interesting topic as well !!!
Keep It Up !