We often think of reading aloud as a way to practise pronunciation and improve fluency. But it gives children much more than that.
By reading aloud a little every day, children become familiar with words and sentence patterns through repeated exposure. They begin to develop a feel for the language through its sounds and rhythms, while gradually building a store of language they can draw on when expressing themselves.
More importantly, every book they finish and every unfamiliar word they manage to work through gives them a little more confidence and a sense of achievement.
At first, reading may be hesitant and full of pauses. Gradually, children begin to read stories more naturally and fluently. At first, they may need encouragement to pick up a book. Later, they begin to reach for one themselves.
These changes do not happen overnight. They grow quietly through the simple habit of reading, day after day.
Reading aloud brings language into children's ears, eyes and mouths. And, little by little, it helps their confidence grow.
That is why we keep reading aloud. Not simply to finish a book, or to read faster and more accurately, but because we hope that one day children will genuinely enjoy reading and expressing themselves in English.
We want English to become more than a subject they study — something they feel comfortable using and are curious to explore.
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