Reading for pleasure is on the rise among language learners at St Andrews Bangkok

International research shows that reading for pleasure is important for both educational purposes as well as personal development. It is indeed a doorway to success in both school and life. Yet, according to the National Literacy Trust (2021), children today read less frequently than any previous generation and enjoy reading less than young people did in the past. While reading engagement has slightly increased during the lockdown period and with the uptake of eBooks, surveys from the National Literacy Trust have shown a correlation between school attendance and lower reading engagement. In other words, students feel that they have no time to read for pleasure at school.

Since 2020, the French Bookflix Club (ECA), designed and conducted by Ms Mabell with French First Language students (Years 2 to 5), has been positively reshaping students’ attitudes toward reading for fun! With up-to-date engaging books spanning across different literary genres and carefully selected based on readers’ age, level and interests, students are not only expanding their imagination and reading repertoire but also developing those key literacy competencies they will need once they land in High School. 

From the choice of attractive books to classroom design and set-up, nothing has been left to chance in the Bookflix Club. This is a safe and socially engaging environment where readers simply enjoy reading, analyse what they have read by filling their “Fiches de Lecture” (Reading Sheets), recommend books to their peers and exchange thoughts and laughs about their favourite or least favourite passages. Readers’ efforts are also being rewarded through House-Points for best handwriting, drawing, summary, the number of books and pages read, and “extra mile” taken, for instance, reading a book recommended by another club member or one from a different genre. Those unable to join the Club can still tune in to eBookflix through their iPads, access numerous digitised books from St Andrews International School Bangkok Language Library, and nourish their reading for pleasure. 

Following the success of the French Bookflix Club and recognising the importance of building reciprocal and interactive reading experiences for students, Ms Sohee, from Korean First Language and Ms Christine, from German First Language, have also decided to champion the Bookflix approach in their classrooms, particularly through digitised books. 

Ms Sohee also emphasised the importance of easy access for all when it comes to valuable existing knowledge resources.

Building communities of young readers through projects such as Bookflix enables our language teachers to appreciate further the significance of students’ reading experiences both within and outside of school. It has also led to a better understanding of students’ interests and preferences, consequently choosing and offering a more satisfying and diverse range of books in the language programmes. Finally, the positive experiences shared by students during the French Bookflix Club have strengthened our assumption that greater enjoyment of reading will also lead to higher attainment.