Making Reading Fun

(granted it is doable)

Gulmira Viker
 Discuss the following in your
groups:
1. Is reading a receptive or productive
skill?
2. What makes reading in a foreign
language so challenging?
3. Is reading a solitary activity?
4. Is classroom reading the same as
real reading? If not, whats the
difference?
5. Is it important to activate schemata
before reading?
 Do you recognize this
activity?
Choose a text that is appropriate level or interest wise. Split the
class into groups or pairs. Each group must have one runner and a
designated writer.

The runner has to go to the assigned text and read the sentences
- committing them to memory - they are not allowed to touch the
paper, take the paper back to the group or shout the sentence
across the room. Once they think they can remember the
sentence they return to the group and repeat to them what it
said.

The writer of the group writes down the sentence as it is dictated,

if the runner forgets part of the sentence they are allowed to go
back to the paper and re-read it (same rules apply).
 Cut up and re-arrange

Divide students into small groups or pairs.

Hand out a cut-up version of the story or dialogue.
Have students try to arrange the sentences in
order. It helps to tell them which sentence is first.
Encourage them to tell each other why they think
a particular sentence comes next.
Circle through the groups, pointing out sentences
that are not in the correct position. (It helps if you
bring the original around with you for easy
reference.)
 Running Dictation 2
Choose a text.
Prepare comprehension questions.
In class divide students into pairs.
One student is a writer. The other is a reader.
The writer reads one question at a time. The
reader finds the answer and dictates it to the
writer.
Have them swap roles half way.
Make sure comprehension questions are
mixed. (not in order the information is
presented in the text)
 Upside down reading

Put students into pairs. Have them

hold their book upside down and race
to read through the extract. After each
round tell them to switch partners and
do it again.
Whats this?
 Do you know these words?
carnivore

acute

agile

trill

tabby
 Practicing Reading aloud
Before the lesson:

Find an appropriate text. Make enough

copies for each student.
Cut it in 6 parts.
Label each part as 1, 2, 3 etc
Find enough dice for the number of your
of your group. (2-3 students in one
group)
 During the lesson
Activate schemata
Pre-teach unfamiliar vocabulary
Divide students into pairs or groups
Have them write their name down
and numbers 1 to 6 next to it
 For instance

Gulmira Viker

1 2 3 4 5 6
 Then
Have a student in each pair (group) roll a
die and read that part matches the number
they rolled.
After they read it, they should circle that
number on the sheet.
If they get the same number they have to
read again. No numbers circled.
The one who is able to circle all the
numbers next to their numbers is the
winner.