Teenagers´ reading preferences: how to motivate students to read

Open publication - Free publishing - More education

The best of us (TV show proposal)

Dear Sir,

I am writing with regards to your requirement about a new television series for teenagers. I belong to a production company interested in offering a game show named “The best of us” which will increase your weekend audience.

The programme consists of teenagers showing their skills and hobbies. It is addressed to students from secondary school from different provinces of Argentina. The show will engage teenagers who are at home due to the fact that they will be the ones in charge of judging the performers by sending text messages. In addition, the audience that will be in the set will also act as jury. They will give their opinion by pressing a bottom.

It will be a weekly show that will last three hours and students from all over the country will participate. Every week two schools from the same province will show their talent  to obtain a place in the final competition. The winner group of each programme will compete for the biggest prize. It will consist of a trip and an amount of money to invest in their school.

I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Faithfully,

Are you my mother? I can’t remember your face

by Marisa Gallardo

“Are you my mother?” What would you do if your children make this question when you return from your job? Nowadays it seems to be acceptable that women work and try to be as men. But, does society really accept women outside home? Do men really accept that women leave the home to go to work? In the story “Are you my mother?” P.O.Eastman, the author, seems not to be too convinced. It is easy to notice a clear point of view: women were made for attending housework and taking care of their children.

Through lovely pictures, the story creates a sweet mental image of a careful mother bird which is incubating her egg and waiting for the moment in which her baby bird comes out. She is ready to protect and look after him. This should be her only concern. Even the kerchief that the mother bird wears around her head may be associated with women who only take care of their home. Some years ago it was commonly watched on television advertisements about cleaning products which showed a housewife wore a kerchief around her head and an apron. The housewife claimed that these products were her best allies in the household cleaning because they not only simplified the task but left her more time to take care of children.

Another detail that seems to reveal the true role that society imposed on women is the absence of a father bird. It is considered correct that men are those who are away from home, either working or with friends, but never at home looking after children. Who better than women to deal with this? If not look what happens with the baby bird, when his mother leaves the nest to go for food. The vulnerable baby bird has to overcome many dangerous situations to find his mother and none of these would have happened if his mother would have stayed in the nest.

Despite the fact that, nowadays women play an important role in society, chauvinistic beliefs insist on positioning women only serving the needs of the home and waiting for the arrival of their protector men. It is not a coincidence that the rescue of the baby bird in the story is made by a snort, a machine that is usually controlled by men.

Perseverance and friendship underwater

Julieta Acevedo & Marisa Gallardo

“Finding Nemo” has won the Academy Award for the best animated feature in 2003, has earned $868 millions dollars and has been seen all over the world. It was written by Andrew Staton and produced by Pixar. It tells the story of clownfish Marlin who looks for his son, Nemo, who has been caught by a boat. Values such as friendship and perseverance are shown during this adventure. They make this movie unique for children as nowadays they live in a society where values are not taken into account. 

Marlin is helped by Doris, a regal tang, during his journey. She becomes a great support for him and doesn’t doubt in leaving her life aside and accompanying him in his search for his son. Meanwhile, Nemo is caught in a fishbowl where he meets several friends. Gill, a Moorish idol, tries by all means to help him to escape. Eventually, with the help of his new friends, Nemo finds his way out and meets his father. Through this situation children may learn the real importance of friendship.

Children can easily notice the value of being perseverant when watching the film. In order to find his son, Marlin has to tackle many obstacles such as sharks and jellyfish. No matter the difficulties, he continues his long trip to Sydney in a real act of perseverance and courage. This attitude can be also noticed in Nemo. Due to the attack he suffered when he was still inside his egg, he has a smaller fin.  In spite of the fact that he is handicapped he never gives up in his commitment to be with his father again. 

There are also more values such as cooperation and solidarity reflected in the help that Nemo and Marlin receive during the movie and they are as significant as the previous ones. In our society, where values are most of the times discredited, we can find a movie like Nemo that teaches children the importance of friendship and perseverance.

Flash fiction

Teacher: You’ll have a zero. Student: Pity you won’t be able to write it.

A priest in need is a kid in danger.

Rastafarian Airlines: take a trip to paradise.

People getting married. Lawyers delivering pamphlets.
(M. A., Natalia Brucciamonti, Camila Chaves, Cintia López, Julián Riobó, Gonzalo Viola)

Growing inside me after such desperate wait.
(Valeria Niell, Nadina González, Gisela Méndez)

Come back. You forgot your life.
(Gisela Méndez)

-“You take it. I’m totally lost!... I can’t read it” –“It’s upside-down”
(Valeria Niell)

Five minutes to evacuate… Get your ticket ready. No ticket, no life.

Can I live in your bubble? Mine is leaking air.

Be clear when you order. Mine was delivered with blue eyes.
(Julieta Acevedo, Gabriela Belitzky, Marisa Gallardo, Betina Ricchezza)

Son: Don’t cry, I’ll be your angel.
(Nadina González)