Why Cambodian students don't spend their for reading?

[ratanaros]

Dear all,

I know that some of you are good at reading, but generally most of Cambodian students do not spend their time for reading. I wonder why? You know, acutally, I feel bored with reading, when start to read then feel sleepy. How can we deal with this problem?

In other hand, especially in class, you know all students normally study from their teachers only. They, me as well, will not do research by their own mind, unless teachers assign to do assignment.

Finally, I hope that all of you will express your valuable ideas.


Ros  Ratana

[chesda]

I know, it's our habit right?

P.

[Sokheang Thea]

well, I personally believe that they just don't have academic goals. Once we have a goal, we will certainly be industrious to study and learn by ourself. You see whenever we have an exam, we study very hard to acheive it. So set a goal and work toward them. we won't be lazy! Just some opinion. 

[Greeny]

Personally I think people in Cambodia are raised to be that way. Parents do not encourage their children to read; thus not many of them like reading. If we want to change this habit, we've got to have children do lots of reading from the young age.

[Minar]

For my idea, Cambodian people do not like reading because thire habit and unrecognition of reading value. First,their habit : like Greeny said their parents did not encourage them to read so it become their habits up untill they are older. Second,they do not understand the value of reading and there is no noe tell them about its value also it's hard for them to find source to read ( I think it could be ) so many people spending their time to do different things.

I am happy that you are interested in the topic of reading. I would encourage all of you to spend more time to read and try to get idea from your reading. I know most people found it bored to read. But spend your 10 or 20 minutes to ready daily and take note may helpfull, I think.

Another thing I want say is you can tell your young siblings to enjoy reading, teach them to enjoy reading so the next generation of Cambodian students might read more.

[denith]

Easy answer: No motivation.

Motivate them to read, they will. Yes, reading has its value. The French celebrates "Day of Reading" because they worship reading as their best weapon for education.

And, for those students, because the schooling system is not as strict as in other countries, that's why they just don't spend time reading.

Laziness is not the only thing to talk... because their parents are also lazy.

[Keo Somala]

Dear all,

I know that some of you are good at reading, but generally most of Cambodian students do not spend their time for reading. I wonder why? You know, acutally, I feel bored with reading, when start to read then feel sleepy. How can we deal with this problem?

In other hand, especially in class, you know all students normally study from their teachers only. They, me as well, will not do research by their own mind, unless teachers assign to do assignment.

Finally, I hope that all of you will express your valuable ideas.

Hi Ratana and all our friends here,

"Cambodians don't have a habit of reading." breaks my heart into pieces when I hear it. A few foreign lecturers of mine have said it several times in public and in class. I feel for our country, our youth and our next generation. I don't want the young people to realize this. To make a dream come true, one should widen one's knowledge through reading. A lot of people may not believe that 'reading' can change their lives.

I share your concern, Ratana. I have been through a tough situation, struggling to read while getting so bored with the books. Sadly, there was not a great deal of motivation from my family but there was a lot from my teacher. I started to read a lot for the first time in my life in 2002. I began to look for English and Cambodian books to read. My teacher told me to read whatever is good and enlightens everything in life. I first chose English reading books to learn as I yearned to improve my English vocabulary as well as my English structures. First, don't force yourself to read what doesn't interest you. I have a trick done to myself. Haha. When I need to read something uninteresting, I begin my interest by reading something else interesting. After a short while, I may or may not finish that interesting thing. But it leads me to another. Curiosity happens when you read a lot. Usually, people don't have or lose curiosity when they don't hear, understand or read anything. Hence, you need to hear, listen to, read and understand things around you as much as possible.

Talking about the audience of the books, it's the public who are children, young adults, old adults, students, prrofessors, lecturers and many other people regardless of their social position. I agree with everyone. I agree with everyone, especially Greeny. She is right with the primitive stage to develop a habit of reading. In other developed countries, parents encourage their children to read by exploring their children's interest. In Japan, an anonymous source told me that the parents bring children into a centre to explore their children's interest. How? By letting the experts there see what they children are doing in a lab room with many favourite things that most children like.  You can't believe your eyes when one of your own children is rushing toward a toy building or a toy car. 

Seriously speaking, let's start from us now. I'll start from me. 


Hi Minar,

For my idea, Cambodian people do not like reading because thire habit and unrecognition of reading value. First,their habit : like Greeny said their parents did not encourage them to read so it become their habits up untill they are older. Second,they do not understand the value of reading and there is no noe tell them about its value also it's hard for them to find source to read ( I think it could be ) so many people spending their time to do different things.

I am happy that you are interested in the topic of reading. I would encourage all of you to spend more time to read and try to get idea from your reading. I know most people found it bored to read. But spend your 10 or 20 minutes to ready daily and take note may helpfull, I think.

Another thing I want say is you can tell your young siblings to enjoy reading, teach them to enjoy reading so the next generation of Cambodian students might read more.

Fantastic ideas, Mina!
 

[chesda]

What do you think of the number of books in Khmer in Cambodia? And how many books meet the standard? Do you think, just read in English is enough?

P.

[rachada]

Perfect!

[Keo Somala]

What do you think of the number of books in Khmer in Cambodia? And how many books meet the standard? Do you think, just read in English is enough?

P.

Hi Brother Poch,

You raised a series of very good questions indeed.

The number of books written in the Khmer language isn't huge, as far as they are concerned. The sales on the market are mostly dominated by English and other foreign langauge books. The Khmer novels are sold expensively when compared to the English ones. Well, actually, the printing cost is also a concern. My Khmer teacher published a pocket book of general knowledge. The seller told him that the customers don't favour it much, only a few students do.

 How many books meet the standard? That's still a question for me. But I think there are also some that you can read to enlighten your understanding. The problem is a lot of our authors are not internationally well-know and not completely qualified as authors. Come on, if they have been trained for some years, they will make it. If you can tell, please let me know your ideas of how many Cambodian books meet the standard because I heard that you want to write a book as well.

I think reading in English isn't enough just because I haven't read only English but also Khmer books. They are all very important for me. I can't give up either one. Thus, we are supposed to balance what we read. All I mean is that we'd better increase our awareness in reading.What should we read? what kind of books improve ourselves?

Should we become more and more nationalist about reading books by our authors? 

[chesda]

Hi Jerry, just this time I can see you are exceptional!

Hi Sister, to my personal knowledge, there are not so many books meet the standard. When I talk about the standard, it doesn't mean that the book is useless or not important to read. However, I mean about the preparation of the books. It difficult for me to find a text book with index in Khmer langauge. You might know what are importances of the content, appendex, and especailly index of the book, right? So I guess you also hardly find a Khmer book with index. I know the situation of Cambodian Authors right now, it's the same as you mentioned.

Anyway, I just feel like, if we contribute to writing books our development in sharing ideas will improve. Still there are a lot of obstacles to tackle with. Yeah, I am in my writing of a little book. Hopefully, after I finish my writing, I can help those young students to get some good ideas from me. I wish you join me in writing down those ideas in your head to let our generations absorb them.

P. 

[Keo Somala]

Hi Jerry, just this time I can see you are exceptional!

Hi Sister, to my personal knowledge, there are not so many books meet the standard. When I talk about the standard, it doesn't mean that the book is useless or not important to read. However, I mean about the preparation of the books. It difficult for me to find a text book with index in Khmer langauge. You might know what are importances of the content, appendex, and especailly index of the book, right? So I guess you also hardly find a Khmer book with index. I know the situation of Cambodian Authors right now, it's the same as you mentioned.

Thanks very much, brother for your clear explanation.

Anyway, I just feel like, if we contribute to writing books our development in sharing ideas will improve. Still there are a lot of obstacles to tackle with. Yeah, I am in my writing of a little book. Hopefully, after I finish my writing, I can help those young students to get some good ideas from me.I wish you join me in writing down those ideas in your head to let our generations absorb them.

Yeah, I believe your efforts will pay off and will really help our next generation. You're telling me. Of cource, there are a lot of (countless) obstacles to tackle with while you are in the process of writing a book. In this world, there isn't in fact 'security' or easy tasks. Everyone has to make a decision to do what they want and well along the way small and big pieces of rock can block you. To take a risk occurs every day.

Yeah, I'd be very glad to become a co-author with Mr. Chesda.  Well, that doesn't have to be. I hope I will be able to provide you some help in your book writing if you need. 

[denith]

Those young people care about games and girls more.

[Kimlong]

Insert Quote
Dear all,

I know that some of you are good at reading, but generally most of Cambodian students do not spend their time for reading. I wonder why? You know, acutally, I feel bored with reading, when start to read then feel sleepy. How can we deal with this problem?

In other hand, especially in class, you know all students normally study from their teachers only. They, me as well, will not do research by their own mind, unless teachers assign to do assignment.

Finally, I hope that all of you will express your valuable ideas.

It's according to the nature of the persons! But those can get used to doing such things by only practicing or putting their heart on doingso!

Knowing who we are, where we're now, where we want to go, and how to go are the best agents to overcome such difficultie or kill our laziness!

[Sokheang Thea]

You all have been sharing great ideas. Another thing that may also contribute is lack of materials. I sometimes find it hard & costly to find books I want, not to mention all people out of Phnom Penh.  Sad isn't it?