Simple Things to Start Reading

Have you ever listed what do you read from you wake up until you are already at the office or workplace? If you have time to sit and think, list what you have read in the last five hours, in any language. They could be newspaper, magazine, signage, bus number, leaflet, telephone directory, application letter, letters, emails, notes, street map, timetable, billboard, menu, ingredients, label on medicine, text message, whatsapp, line, google, and/or facebook. These prove that we have the willing to read and need to read something which  gives us message even though there is a variety of reasons for reading. At least, we have read.

Yesterday afternoon, I opened my facebook and had a very amusing posting from a friend, YenYen, in Singapore. Of course, it was eager me to read and even to join answering her question. She asked, "What do birds give out during Halloween night?". Some answered correctly but some were not. Then, I tried to find the answer through 'uncle' google. It derived me to this web: spoonful.com/halloween/halloween-jokes. I read it and found the answer. It was 'trick or tweet'. After replying to my friend's facebook, I returned back to that web and continued reading all the jokes there. They were funny and fun. 

Furthermore, I dragged the questions and got this one. "What was the witch's favorite subject in school? --SPELLING--. Suddenly, it was like linking me with my prior knowledge. I thought I ever read which is similar with what the joke meant. Again and again, I remembered that it was from facebook. It was posted by my Ph.D. student friend, Lita, at our group named Forum Diskusi Mahasiswa S3 Pendidikan Bahasa Inggris 2011 UM (Ph.D. Student Discussion Forums 2011 State University of Malang English Education). She posted, "If two witches watched two watches, which witch would watch which watch?". Finally, I got the reason why the witch's favorite subject in school was spelling. 

As a start-up of my blog, I would like to share that what we have read so far, so long, even just the simple ones; however, they form our schemata or prior knowledge to the organized definition and concept. Nuttall (1996) sates that schemata are molded from a mental structure and abstract thing which relates to experience. Out of such kinds of assumption, our minds then try to organize the knowledge we have got from our experiences which then enable us to interpret texts. This is what every human has; schema (singular) or schemata (plural), i.e. useful ways of thinking in organizing experience. We are so grateful to be equipped with this brain and mind.

So, never stop to try to read, to link what we read ... even it is a simple thing.

Be blessed and be blessing.

Cheers,

Natalia C.



References

Nuttal, C. (1996). Teaching reading skills in a foreign language. (New Ed.). Oxford: Macmillan Education.


http://spoonful.com/halloween/halloween-jokes.

YenYen's facebook.

Forum Diskusi Mahasiswa S3 Pendidikan Bahasa Inggris 2011 UM facebook.

Acquaintanceship

Dear All,

Most of the time, we never realize on what we have got and enjoyed, and happened in our life. However, when we take few minutes to be quiet and contemplate every single moment has occurred, we will be very grateful. It is going on with me. I am very thankful of being a part of this world and giving what I have experienced to you all, my dear friends.

You are welcome to read and comment a piece of my thoughts and my journeys.
Thank you.

Be blessed and be blessing.


Cheers,

Natalia Christiani