Importance of Reading

I am not a chinese advocate, but I have to admit I am hooked on a book most think would be boring - shediaoyingxiongzhuan, a chinese martial arts novel. That may prove a new point: yes, I am a martial arts fan.

It is understandable that many find reading boring. Of course, doing something in real-life is much more realistic and fun than just reading about someone else doing it, but just like how food is what gives us life, reading is the bread and butter of learning a language.

When reading, your brain's reading circuit will be activated and trained, the more you read, the deeper understanding you have of the language. In the exciting midst of reading your intriguing mystery adventure, your brain would automatically remember and process new vocabulary, as well as how already-known vocabulary can be used in new ways of sentence structure.

This year's top student in the Primary School Leaving Examinations could barely speak any English when she moved here from China in 2006 with here family. She was already Primary 3 by then.

Biqing said she improved her English by reading a lot. She now has direct school admission place in Raffles Girls Secondary School. From somebody who cannot even speak English, she can now scored an A* in her English exams because she reads.

PSLE is a local Primary School exam to test local students' ability in the various subjects. Why don't Singaporeans find it embarrassing that a foreigner tops their own local exam? Is it because while she was putting all her effort reading, the rest are still playing away on the computer?

Reading can be easy, if one is willing to put in the effort. I heartily agree with the chinese proverb: There is nothing difficult in the world, it is only a matter of whether you are willing to put in the effort to do it. It seems to reflect the spirit of this year's top PSLE scholar, as well as previous years' top PSLE scholars too, may I guess.

Reading can be interesting too. Whether you are a soccer fan, baseball fan, martial arts or mystery, books all over the world by different authors can cater to your interest.

Reading is convenient, I am sure there are community libraries located at shopping malls near your home. And they are free! - its just the matter of whether you have the heart to improve your yourself.

It is no wonder why the government puts so much emphasis on reading in Primary School syllabus. I hope the new syllabus MM Lee mentioned would continue to put reading as an important component of chinese learning.