MANILA BULLETIN ONLINE
YOUTH & CAMPUS
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Teaching-learning English through newspaper
Saturday, September 27, 2008
YOUTH & CAMPUS
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Teaching-learning English through newspaper
Saturday, September 27, 2008
In teaching English language, newspapers have been proven effective as instructional tools, especially in non-English speaking countries such as Vietnam, China, and Thailand, where English through Newspaper is often a required course at the intermediate levels.
In the Philippines, this method is introduced by Vibal Publishing’s new book, Teaching-Learning English through Newspaper by Ruben Umaly, Ph.D., and Virginia Bautista, M.A.
"As a teacher in Bangkok, I’ve seen firsthand how newspapers can provide a daily supply of material for teaching and learning English," states Umaly. "This inspired the idea behind the book."
Teaching-Learning English through Newspaper functions as an English textbook that enforces English proficiency using newspaper stories, partnering with the Philippines’ longest running broadsheet, Manila Bulletin.
Pre-reading, reading, and post-reading activities, as well as group work and classroom activities are provided for the students, as well as tables and work sheets. The book also contains homework assignments that are designed to extend reading at home.
Using the newspaper for English instruction has several advantages over the regular textbook.
"In my experience, students often get bored with textbooks, which use jargon and formal English," Bautista notes. "It provides English learners highly edited and well-written material in authentic language – English as it is used in real life – in various forms: news pieces, narratives, feature articles, photo captions, blurbs, advertisements, and more."
Using the different types of articles found in the newspaper, teachers can use a variety of classroom exercises and activities that can help students develop reading, writing, grammar, vocabulary, and speech skills.
Bautista also emphasizes that the relevance of the newspaper keeps students motivated.
"Textbooks get easily outdated, while newspapers are a dynamic resource that provides relevant, up-to-date articles on a variety of topics on a daily basis, and at a low price," Bautista explains. "Teachers can use articles from different sections to suit the students’ taste, or make activities relevant to the interests or course of the students. Students develop awareness and critical thinking in tackling issues of national interest."
Cesar Inocencio, editorial coordinator of Vibal Publishing House, states, "English teachers will find this book especially relevant in imparting to their students the fact that we are now living in a globalized society, in need of being abreast with current events, recent developments and issues. English teachers, as well as other teachers in subjects like Social Studies or Science, will keep their students well-informed about recent advancements or developments in technology, science, current events, and the like."
Aside from improving proficiency in the English language and instilling social responsibility, newspapers can also promote reading as a social behavior and establish the lifelong habit of reading.
"The book’s activities encourage the students to read newspapers outside the classroom. Pass-along readership is also promoted as students can share the newspaper with their family," says Bautista.
"We are happy that the authors of the book have aptly recognized Manila Bulletin, as well as all other newspapers, not only as a reliable source of news and information but also a most effective tool for educating and developing, instilling and forming the proper values, especially among the young,"
concludes Mrs. Pacencia Pineda, executive vice president of Manila Bulletin. "Besides our core mission of delivering accurate, timely, impartial and relevant news and information, we also consistently rally our countrymen to ‘unite and move the nation forward’. The best way to do this is to keep our people well-informed and educated, attaining a high level of literacy and readiness to contribute to national progress."
In the Philippines, this method is introduced by Vibal Publishing’s new book, Teaching-Learning English through Newspaper by Ruben Umaly, Ph.D., and Virginia Bautista, M.A.
"As a teacher in Bangkok, I’ve seen firsthand how newspapers can provide a daily supply of material for teaching and learning English," states Umaly. "This inspired the idea behind the book."
Teaching-Learning English through Newspaper functions as an English textbook that enforces English proficiency using newspaper stories, partnering with the Philippines’ longest running broadsheet, Manila Bulletin.
Pre-reading, reading, and post-reading activities, as well as group work and classroom activities are provided for the students, as well as tables and work sheets. The book also contains homework assignments that are designed to extend reading at home.
Using the newspaper for English instruction has several advantages over the regular textbook.
"In my experience, students often get bored with textbooks, which use jargon and formal English," Bautista notes. "It provides English learners highly edited and well-written material in authentic language – English as it is used in real life – in various forms: news pieces, narratives, feature articles, photo captions, blurbs, advertisements, and more."
Using the different types of articles found in the newspaper, teachers can use a variety of classroom exercises and activities that can help students develop reading, writing, grammar, vocabulary, and speech skills.
Bautista also emphasizes that the relevance of the newspaper keeps students motivated.
"Textbooks get easily outdated, while newspapers are a dynamic resource that provides relevant, up-to-date articles on a variety of topics on a daily basis, and at a low price," Bautista explains. "Teachers can use articles from different sections to suit the students’ taste, or make activities relevant to the interests or course of the students. Students develop awareness and critical thinking in tackling issues of national interest."
Cesar Inocencio, editorial coordinator of Vibal Publishing House, states, "English teachers will find this book especially relevant in imparting to their students the fact that we are now living in a globalized society, in need of being abreast with current events, recent developments and issues. English teachers, as well as other teachers in subjects like Social Studies or Science, will keep their students well-informed about recent advancements or developments in technology, science, current events, and the like."
Aside from improving proficiency in the English language and instilling social responsibility, newspapers can also promote reading as a social behavior and establish the lifelong habit of reading.
"The book’s activities encourage the students to read newspapers outside the classroom. Pass-along readership is also promoted as students can share the newspaper with their family," says Bautista.
"We are happy that the authors of the book have aptly recognized Manila Bulletin, as well as all other newspapers, not only as a reliable source of news and information but also a most effective tool for educating and developing, instilling and forming the proper values, especially among the young,"
concludes Mrs. Pacencia Pineda, executive vice president of Manila Bulletin. "Besides our core mission of delivering accurate, timely, impartial and relevant news and information, we also consistently rally our countrymen to ‘unite and move the nation forward’. The best way to do this is to keep our people well-informed and educated, attaining a high level of literacy and readiness to contribute to national progress."
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