DUBAI With the Emirates Airline Festival of Literature 2016, which begins on March 1, coinciding with the Year of Reading in the UAE, Isobel Abulhoul, CEO and trustee of the Emirates Literature Foundation and Festival Director, tells XPRESS how parents and teachers can instil the habit of reading in children. She also outlines the festival’s initiatives in this direction. Excerpts:
There is a genuine need among parents for an informed view from someone like you on how they can get their children to read. What is your advice?
It has been scientifically proven that reading from a young age sets individuals up for success in later life. I believe that parents and teachers play a significant role in inculcating a love for reading in children. Children need to associate books with love and pleasure, and that’s where the importance of parents and teachers comes in.
The best way for any parent to get children interested in reading is by simply reading to them on a daily basis. It is never too early to start. Reading then becomes a habit, and your children associate books with warmth and love.
All of us love a good story and children are no different. Can you as a parent devote 15 minutes of your day to read to your children? No interruptions, no TV, no phone calls. It will be the best decision you could make.
Teachers are another rich source of inspiration. Many teachers read daily to their students, and make the story interesting and engage the whole class.
What is the festival doing to encourage reading?
The festival’s many activities, including the children’s programme of events, Arab Language Week (held every October), Education Days, Student Sessions and author visits to schools are all part of how the festival encourages a love for reading in children.
Recently, our festival’s sister organisation, Dubai International Writers’ Centre, began a new initiative called the Mother and Toddler Reading Group. Mothers with small children attend a weekly meet. A trained reading ambassador brings a story to life, and everyone has an enjoyable time.
What are the new Student Sessions about?
The new Student Sessions are a welcome addition to the popular Education Day events. It is the 400th anniversary of William Shakespeare’s death, and the festival has selected some of the best-loved adaptations to screen for students. The screenings are followed by a talk by a Shakespearean expert.
Chris Hadfield will be inspiring students about his quest to become an astronaut; there will be an exclusive talk with Robert Lindsay and Meera Syal, both giants of the British television and theatre scenes, talking about the impact and importance of Shakespeare, as well as the festival’s first Poetry Live! GCSE Poetry Day. Poetry Live! is an international initiative that brings poets together with students who study their work, and I can’t think of a better way to spark students’ love of poetry than by meeting the poets.
How many students will benefit from this?
With authors visiting more than 100 schools and colleges, in addition to the Education Day events being held at the festival venue (InterContinental Hotel, Dubai Festival City), it is estimated that more than 15,000 students will benefit from these sessions.
Who are the main authors the students will be interacting with?
All of the 150-plus authors at the festival have the opportunity to speak to a student audience whilst they are here. It is a logistical challenge to send authors across the UAE, but the outstanding results of author visits make the efforts very worthwhile. Writers inspire students to read more. And to write more.
