New UAE law gives workers time off to read

 

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has introduced a new law to get people to read more. The law includes a large number of measures to support the government's wish for a higher literacy rate. Government employees will have paid time during working hours to read books. The law encourages private companies to create libraries at their offices, factories and other workplaces. It will also encourage shopping centres to offer spaces to set up public libraries so people can read when they go shopping. These libraries will be easy to use for people with reading disabilities. Even coffee shops at shopping malls will have to offer books and other reading materials to their customers.

The UAE's National Reading Law was issued by President Sheikh Khalifa. In May of this year, he launched the National Strategy for Reading, which has a 10-year goal to create a nation of "avid readers". It aims to make reading a lifelong habit for 50 per cent of the nation's adults and 80 per cent of school students. It also aims to get students to read an average of at least 20 books a year. Hussain Al Hammadi, Minister of Education, said the new law is: "A road map for building a reading, civilised society capable of change, and a world leader in development." Dr Tod Laursen, President of Khalifa University, said that in the age of the Internet, it was still important for books and libraries to have their place in society.

1. DIGITAL: Students A strongly believe reading on digital devices is better than reading books; Students B strongly believe the opposite. 

2. STRATEGIES: What are the best ways (strategies) to read? Talk about this with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

  • Reading exams
  • Unknown vocabulary
  • Novels
  • Instructions
  • Newspapers
  • Reading speed

3. READING MATERIAL: Rank these with your partner. Put the best at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

·        encyclopaedia

·        blogs

·        newspapers

·        manga / comics

·        biographies

·        travel guides

·        fantasy fiction

·        romance

4. SYNONYM MATCH: Match the following synonyms from the article.

  1. introduced
  2. measures
  3. encourages
  4. set up
  5. offer
  6. avid
  7. habit
  8. nation
  9. road map
  10. age
  1. create
  2. brought in
  3. provide
  4. time
  5. custom
  6. plan
  7. actions
  8. keen
  9. supports
  10. country

5.Role play

Role A — Role A – Biographies

You think biographies are the best things to read. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them things that are not so good about their reading material. Also, tell the others which is the least interesting of these (and why): travel guides, novels or manga or comics.

Role B — Role B – Travel Guides

You think travel guides are the best things to read. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them things that are not so good about their reading material. Also, tell the others which is the least interesting of these (and why): biographies, novels or manga or comics.

Role C — Role C – Novels

You think novels are the best things to read. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them things that are not so good about their reading material. Also, tell the others which is the least interesting of these (and why): travel guides, biographies or manga or comics.

Role D — Role D – Manga or Comics

You think manga or comics are the best things to read. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them things that are not so good about their reading material. Also, tell the others which is the least interesting of these (and why): travel guides, novels or biographies.

6.Discussion - New UAE law gives workers time off to read

  1. What did you think when you read the headline?
  2. What springs to mind when you hear the word 'reading'?
  3. How much do you like reading?
  4. What do you think about what you read?
  5. How long should people read each day?
  6. How important are libraries?
  7. What is your favourite library and why do you like it?
  8. What do you think of having libraries in shopping malls?
  9. Where is your favourite place to read, and why?
  10. What's your favourite book, and why?
  1. What can governments do to encourage reading?
  2. What is the benefit to society if people read more?
  3. Why do some people dislike reading?
  4. Is it better to read from a book or the Internet?
  5. Why do we still need libraries?
  6. How does reading change people?
  7. What questions would you like to ask an author?

 

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