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Why is Reading Important?

The importance of reading cannot be stressed enough. Reading is important because it enriches you in all aspects. To know about the benefits of reading, read on.

Prof. A.C. Grayling, in a review of A History of Reading by Alberto Manguel had said, "To read is to fly: it is to soar to a point of vantage which gives a view over wide terrains of history, human variety, ideas, shared experience and the fruits of many inquiries." So true! Reading is really like taking a flight to great heights in pursuit of knowledge. It's a journey towards enlightenment.

Even if you have read one good book in your life, you will know what reading gives. It gives you incomparable pleasure. Read one good book and you will know what the joys of reading are. Reading nourishes your mind. Reading gives you both information and knowledge (and teaches you to distinguish between the two). You eat to keep your body fit and working, right? Then reading is food for your mind and soul. Reading informs you of what's happening around, helps you remain updated about what's changing and not just that. Reading encourages you to think and imagine, think out-of-the-box and imagine the impossibles. It's through reading that you understand that knowledge knows no bounds and the hunger for it is insatiable.

During the olden times, reading was limited to just books, only books. Today, we have the Internet housing so much information, hosted on thousands of websites. We have books online and e-book readers that make reading them easy. The web, our new storehouse of information is just a click away. But this, in no way has stolen the magic of reading books, the sound of their pages' flutter and their smell... you can curl up with a book, but with an e-book reader or your computer? You possibly can't! Be it through any medium, reading is important.

The more we read the more informed we are. It's the means to upgrade ourselves constantly. Reading helps us keep abreast of the times.

 

We learn to read and write at a pretty early age. Our first encounter with reading is probably when we are read out to, from story books... remember those bedtime stories? We begin learning the alphabet, the basic math, we read fun and fascinating facts about animals, plants and the universe. We ask 'whys' and how's. In books, we find their answers. Textbooks accompany us all through education; starting from school right through higher studies. We learn to read, then read to learn, and keep reading to keep learning, to gain knowledge and remain with the world. It's only through reading that we gain exposure to information from different sources. The latest developments in technology, advancements in science, breakthroughs in different fields, the inventions, discoveries, product launches, movie reviews, celebrity gossip, changing political scenarios; just everything around us can become knowledge, only through reading.

Reading paves the way to education and self-enlightenment.

Given that reading is the means to gain knowledge, it's important to inculcate the habit of reading right from childhood. You know what role bedtime stories play in a child's life? Research says that reading something just before going to bed helps the child feel secure and more comfortable while sleeping. So, get children into this habit of reading, bring them good books and help them understand the joys books hold. This habit will go a long way, in making them better human beings. "To acquire the habit of reading is to construct for yourself a refuge from almost all the miseries of life." ~ W. Somerset Maugham.

 

Children who are introduced to reading at an early age are seen to have a better understanding of phonics. They acquire language skills with ease, have a richer vocabulary and possess greater cognitive abilities.

 

Children who grow up reading good books, definitely stand out. The way they think and act is way different from those who have never been exposed to reading. Reading not only adds to their general knowledge but also shapes their personalities. Reading has a great positive impact on one's life. Reading good books is important during the formative years of a child's development. It's during childhood and teenage years that reading inspiring stories can have a deep impact on a child's mind. If, during these years of a child's life, books become his companions, the child develops the hobby of reading and grows up to be more versatile than he would have without reading. Teenage is the phase when one is easily influenced by whatever he is exposed to. If inspirational stories and life experiences are read during these years, they can change a person for better. They stay with him and keep encouraging him to achieve his goals and choose right against the wrong.

Reading keeps us occupied. Reading leads to a fruitful use of time. It helps us get rid of worries. Yes, reading is a great stress buster. It diverts our mind from monotony. Books are excellent sources of recreation. Someone who loves to read, can never get bored, as reading a book is probably the best way to get rid of boredom. Books take you to an altogether different world, helping you relax and rejuvenate. "The habit of reading is the only enjoyment in which there is no alloy; it lasts when all other pleasures fade." ~ Anthony Trollope

Reading helps develop creative and critical thinking skills. It develops vocabulary, sharpens language skills and leads to greater cognitive development. It leads to a better understanding of self.

Books and the web are the richest sources of information. They cover a wide range of topics and store an enormous amount of information. Many websites dedicated to just information and innumerable books that flood libraries are testimony to the fact that knowledge is bountiful. Reading leads us only to read more in the never-ending pursuit of knowledge.

The more you read, the more developed your cognitive abilities are. The more you read, the more creative and imaginative you become. Reading improves your grasping skills and sharpens your analyzing and problem-solving abilities. Reading gives you knowledge, it makes you more confident. The more you read others' lives and experiences, a better decision-maker you become. The more you read, the better you get.

Reading about the importance of reading should lead you to read more, and more, and more. So go grab a book you like and don't stop reading until you reach the end, and even after that. Read as much as you can. Reading is just so important.

 

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Kepentingan Pelajari Bahasa Inggeris........

       Sejak kebelakangan ini mutu pencapaian Bahasa Inggeris di negara kita menampakan kemerosotan yang ketara. Aliran Bahasa Inggeris dihapuskan sejak pelaksanaan Dasar Pendidikan Kebangsaan maka penguasaan pelajar dalam Bahasa Inggeris adalah amat rendah. Ia dibuktikan dalam keputusan peperiksaan pada tahun-tahun yang lepas. Oleh hal yang demikian, mantan Perdana Menteri kita, Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad telah bercadang dan membuat keputusan untuk mewajibkan Bahasa Inggeris sebagai medium pengajaran dalam bidang Sains dan Matematik Tahun Satu dan Tingkatan Satu mulai tahun 2003. Justeru, Bahasa Inggeris haruslah dijadikan sebagai bahasa kedua penting dikira sama ada di sekolah rendah mahupun di sekolalah menengah demi kebaikan semua. Maka, Bahasa Inggeris memainkan peranan yang penting dalam kehidupan rakyat jelata.

       Selain itu, kepentingan Bahasa Inggeris merupakan bahasa utama dalam komunikasi antarabangsa. Hal ini dapat dibuktikan apabila jumlah penutur Bahasa Inggeris di seantero dunia mengatasi jumlah penutur bahasa utama lain seperti bahasa Perancis, Sepanyol, Arab, dan Rusia. Tidak dapat dinafikan bahawa bahasa utama yang digunakan semasa seseorang berkomunikasi dengan bangsa negara lain ialah bahasa Inggeris. Penguasaan bahasa Inggeris bukan sahaja memudahkan kita berhubung dengan dunia luar malah bahasa ini menjamin kelancaran urusan yang melibatkan bangsa negara lain. Misalnya, urusan seseorang dengan bangsa lain akan berjalan dengan lancar sekiranya seseorang itu menguasai bahasa Inggeris dengan sepenuhnya. Sebaliknya, urusan seseorang akan menempuh pelbagai dugaan sekiranya seseorang itu tidak petah dalam bahasa Inggeris. Hal ini jelas menampilkan kepentingan bahasa Inggeris

        Disamping itu, bahasa Inggeris juga merupakan bahasa utama dalam bidang perniagaan. Walaupun bahasa rasmi negara ialah bahasa Malaysia namun dalam bidang perniagaan bahasa yang kerap digunakan ialah bahasa Inggeris. Contohnya, bahasa Inggeris digunakan semasa sesuatu perniagaan sedang dijalankan. Menurut kajian, bahasa Malaysia jarang-jarang digunakan semasa urusan perniagaan dijalankan. Hal ini berlaku demikian kerana bahasa Malaysia kekurangan istilah yang tepat untuk mengungkapkan maksud dalam perniagaan. Penguasaan bahasa Inggeris bukan sahaja penting untuk menjamin peluang kejayaan kerjaya malah juga penting untuk menjamin hubungan yang mantap dalam bidang perniagaan. Jikalau bahasa Inggeris tidak dikuasai, maka perniagaan individu, syarikat, dan negara akan terbatas. Apabila peluang perniagaan terbatas, hal ini bukan sahaja menjejaskan ekonomi negara malah juga menjejaskan hubungan diplomatik dan nama baik negara. Oleh itu, bahasa Inggeris amat penting dalam bidang perniagaan.

          Bukan itu sahaja, bahasa Inggeris penting kerana bahasa ini merupakan bahasa telekomunikasi ataupun bahasa internet. Hal ini dikatakan demikian kerana masyarakat dapat memperoleh maklumat-maklumat yang terkini supaya masyarakat tidak menjadi katak di bawah tempurung dengan syarat masyarakat dapat menguasai Bahasa Inggeris. Malahan, mereka juga dapat memahami isi-isi tersurat yang dipaparkan dalam maklumat antarabangsa yang disalurkan melalui satelit ataupun media massa seperti radio, televisyen, dan surat khabar. Lebih-lebih lagi pada era dunia siber teknologi ini, banyak alat teknologi yang canggih telah dicipta untuk memudahkan perhubungan masyarakat dengan dunia luar seperti internet tambahan pula, Bahasa Inggerislah yang terungkap dalam laman web. Jadi, Bahasa Inggeris haruslah dipandang berat kerana bahasa ini ialah bahasa telekomunikasi ataupun bahasa internet.

        Sebagai kesimpulannya, bahasa Inggeris merupakan bahasa antarabangsa yang amat mustahak untuk berhubung dengan bangsa lain, baik dengan masyarakat tempatan mahupun dengan masyarakat dunia luar. Walaupun bahasa Malaysia ialah bahasa rasmi negara kita tetapi bahasa kebangsaan negara ialah bahasa Inggeris. Ia amat penting untuk kemajuan negara. Penggunaan Bahasa Inggeris membolehkan masyarakat dan negara mempunyai hubungan yang lebih luas dan mudah menerima maklumat antarabangsa. Hal ini secara tidak langsungnya mempercepat pembangunan negara. Di samping itu, kemajuan hanya dicapai dengan lebih cepat sekiranya komunikasi dalam bahasa Inggeris berjalan dengan lancar dengan negara-negara maju. Dengan ini, kecemerlangan seseorang individu bergantung pada tahap penguasaan bahasa Inggeris. Oleh itu, bahasa Inggeris merupakan bahasa yang amat penting dalam menimba ilmu pengetahuan, komunikasi antarabangsa, bidang teknologi, dan bidang perniagaan.

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