I have a friend, Neeraja, in India who inspired a chapter in my teen novel. I sent her a copy of the book when it was published, but she had a very difficult time reading popular fiction.
This morning I read a blog written by Alicia Rudnicki, who teaches English as a Second Language to high school students. She said they're crazy about Stephanie Meyer's Twilight series. Even the boys are interested in checking it out. Mostly to discover Edward's secrets, I imagine.
This begs the question, why is popular fiction helpful for some ESL students and not others? What could Neeraja read that would help her improve her English? What do you read that makes it easier to learn English? Talk to us.
Help with ESL:
Comments
Despite the popularity of “Twilight,” which appeals to so many, I think I would recommend some stories set in India. Looking at B&N, I found “Sold” by Patricia McCormick. Neeraja may find it compelling, because it concerns a real world problem: Impoverished children in many parts of the world are enslaved. In the case of McCormick’s story, the 13-year-old protagonist is sold into prostitution. The online description says it is suitable for readers 12 years old and up.
Thanks for linking to my story about “Twilight” and ESL students. I know from my experiences with ESL students, that they are often interested in issues related to racism. You might want to take a look at my new National Library Examiner page, which includes articles about a book being used in many California classrooms. It is Brian Copeland’s “Not a Genuine Black Man.”
Hi Alicia! I can understand why ESL students would be interested in literature about race relations. It makes sense. Thanks for the suggestion for Neeraja. I’ll pass it on to her.