British education experts are advocating for the inclusion of audiobooks in school curriculum which they hope will kindle their interest in reading, the website Azernews.az reported. This comes on the back of an earlier finding that revealed a growing trend among children to be more receptive toward audiobooks while being less interested in conventional reading methods.
A survey conducted by the National Literacy Trust (NLT) revealed that only 34.6 percent of children prefer reading a book during their leisure hours. On the other hand, a considerably higher 42.3 percent said they’d prefer listening to an audiobook or a podcast. The survey was conducted among 37,000 children in the UK which included both kids as well as teenagers.
All of this has prompted experts to call for making audiobooks a key part of the education system. This will have the twin benefit of the kids gaining vital knowledge on a particular topic while also helping foster a love of reading books in the conventional form. However, it is going to be interesting to see how many get back to actually reading a book after being exposed to audiobooks, or how long it will take for the kids to make the shift to physical books.
Some experts however are of the opposite view. For instance, John Mullan, a professor of English at University College London said reading a book has its own benefits which audiobooks lack. According to John, reading is a more engaging mental process, something that requires active mental participation. While reading, you are deeply engaged with the text which positively impacts your vocabulary and comprehension.
In contrast, listening is a less engaging process, so much so that you are open to doing other tasks while listening to an audiobook. This can be great for multitasking – by the time you are done with your regular tasks which can be household chores or driving, you have also covered a sizeable portion of a book, if not in its entirety. Audiobooks can also be great for those with disabilities that prevent them from reading a book.
Nonetheless, a distinct and steady shift in media consumption characterized by the advent of digital content and new-age streaming methods is likely the reason the young generation is drawn more toward audiobooks than reading a physical book. In view of this, authorities in the education department are pushing for the inclusion of audiobooks in the school curriculum as this can lead to a more inclusive learning environment.
An interim report on the changes likely to be introduced to the school curriculum that the UK government plans to release soon is expected to feature audiobooks for the first time. Apart from getting a grasp on the subject, audiobooks are also expected to allow for critical thinking and contribute to their emotional intelligence in the long run.
With a keen interest in tech, I make it a point to keep myself updated on the latest developments in technology and gadgets. That includes smartphones or tablet devices but stretches to even AI and self-driven automobiles, the latter being my latest fad. Besides writing, I like watching videos, reading, listening to music, or experimenting with different recipes. The motion picture is another aspect that interests me a lot, and I'll likely make a film sometime in the future.