Interview with Diane in “The Standard”, Hong Kong’s biggst circulation English daily newspaper
April 8, 2017
BMAB is the leading advocate for family literacy in Hong Kong and I consider it an honor to be part of their work. I began working in Hong Kong in 1997 and the changes I have seen are tremendous. These changes have not just happened. It takes the hard work of so many dedicated volunteers to change the literacy climate in a culture.The ripple effects continue with the efforts of Fumika Barretto who was inspired by Diane’s workshop to set up her own ‘Conversational Reading’ class for her Japanese adult students to improve their English, donating all her proceed to BMAB library programs.
Here is an interview from The Standard, “Smart parents highlights Diane Frankenstein’s 3 steps for Conversational Reading >>Diane Frankenstein emphasizes three important points about reading aloud:
1) Read a book
How to motivate your kids to read? Reading aloud is like a game: parents are your child’s partner to play in this game. We should not use storytelling time at home for teaching vocabulary or grammar to kids which may have the adverse effect and turn them to become reluctant readers.
In fact, it is during these precious moments of reading time, parents are able communicate with their children for no purpose, other than to strengthen communication and family bonding. Leading kids to explore the joy in books also helps to create their appetite for reading.
2) Ask a question
How to ask questions during storytelling? What are the best way to respond to your child’s questions?
The questions are more important than the answers since questions express the child’s thoughts. As adults, we should ask specific questions (not abstract like “What is the meaning of the book?). Remember not to ask too many questions as this will interrupt the natural flow of the reading. Children only read for story.
3) Start a conversation
Parents should remember reading is a tool to build their children’s values through communication.
“Reading aloud is a skill, CConversational Reading is an art”, according to Diane. Developing communication during reading time with your child is critical. Be patient to nurture your kids.
Diane returns to Hong Kong by popular demand to work with Bring Me A Book Foundation
March 6, 2017
The vision of BMAB is a Hong Kong in which every child is read to, strengthening family and community bonds, and creating a love of learning, taps into how children become lifelong readers. Parental involvement is essential to a child’s success in school. When children start reading independently, parents need to become more, not […]
An interesting thought to judge your reading against
January 22, 2017
“When I* was 17, Isaac Babel’s stories opened a door in my mind, and behind that door I found a room where I wanted to spend the rest of my life.” How often can you say that about the books you read? * Paul Auster
Martin Luther King, Jr.—what would he say today?
January 15, 2017
Cowardice asks the question, ‘Is it safe?’ Expediency asks the question, “Is it politic?” Vanity asks the question, “Is it popular?” But, conscience asks the question, “Is it right?” And there comes a time when one must take a position that is neither safe, nor politic, nor popular but one must take it because one’s […]
How do you get ready to love Tolstoy?
January 11, 2017
“Childhood reading is magic.” “Huck and Jim on the raft. Scout in the courtroom. The images in my mind’s eye I created as a child reading those books are still inside me. I can call them up even now, as I sit using the free Wi-Fi at this coffee shop in Austin, Texas. That’s a […]
