Journal 1

Journal 1 • Suppose your younger brother, nine year old, did not read in English yet, so your mother decided to send him to Hakwon. But 3 months later he ended up feeling that English was simply nightmare. He hated doing phonics workbook and memorizing words. He didn't want to go to Hakwon anymore. Your mother was now anxious and worried about her son. Your mother asked for your help. How would you help your brother enjoy reading in English?::::


Learning phonics is one of the basics in English learning, and that is why many private institutes in Korea teach English beginning with phonics. However, even though learning phonics can improve English, it should not be forced to students who do not wish to learn them. If English starts to feel like "hatred" and "nightmare", it is not a good sign since we are surrounded by English for our whole lives. My younger brother is just a nine year old boy. If he does not want to go to Hakwon anymore, I think he should not be forced. Even though English is the key for survival in the Korean society, and I understand that mom is worried his son will be left behind in English studying, I think he should first enjoy English before begin to "study" phonics and vocabulary.

I think the supporting atmosphere is important, that everyone is supporting him. I would help him improve his reading using the four principles designed by Williams (1986). I think language-focused learning, which focuses on form, strategy, grammar, and functional expressions, can be taught later, and perhaps gradually while other principles are put to use. For meaning-focused input and fluency development, because he does not yet know how to read in English, I think shared reading and guided reading can be effective techniques. Me as a story teller, I can read him stories from blown-up books while showing him the pictures and written words. He probably has just begun to read Korean books, so I do not want to pressure him to reading a brand new information in English. Maybe reading him the translated story from the Korean version could be helpful. This is shared reading. When he begins to understand some English words, guided reading can take place, which he reads silently or reading aloud to me or other members of the family. I think complements goes a long way. It may seem like his English is not improving, but he is just looking at the pictures. However, I think for his age, a lot of exposure to English is helpful, and this is a way which does not pressure him.

Watching his favorite movie, for example 'Harry Potter', is also effective, for him to enjoy English. I myself watched 'Harry Potter' movie almost every day for one summer until I memorized the words. Then, I was excited and wanted to read the original version, the Harry Potter books. Even though I could not understand many vocabulary, I just read the book aloud to my family. Recording the voice of reading is also helpful, and this recording could be played during dinner time which all my family members can hear and see that I improve every day. This is one of the meaning-focused output strategies as it involves reading, listening, and speaking. I myself used the similar strategies and found myself love English and want to read more challenging books. If he is active, he can role play some of the scenes from Harry Potter with me, using English. This can improve his pronunciation and intonation as well. There is nothing to worry about at his age. English is not learned in one month. It needs time to make it in my own. When he feels that he wants to learn more English, he will be willing to go to Hakwon now.