EG

Reading for Class vs. Pleasure

Reading for class and for pleasure have entirely different impact on
the reader, and each has its own advantages.

Advantages of reading for a class:
Assigned reading encourages to explore an area outside of his favorite
genre. This gives him a broader and more meaningful perspective on
life. He may even discover a new hobby or a style of writing that he
would normally not stumble upon when choosing a book.
Class discussions are often part of the assignment. Verbal exchanges
help to develop students' abilities to accurately transform specific
thoughts/feelings into words. During these exchanges, students also
share their unique experiences and how they affects their
perspectives. By considering these perspectives, students obtain an
unbiased view on a subject. This skill helps students to analyze a
situation more deeply and multilaterally.
A teacher helps to guide the students by teaching them how the words
form accurate expressions to convey certain thoughts. Instead of
merely reading just to get a feel for the book, students will learn
(from the teacher) how and why they feel a certain way. This focuses
on the students' writing skills.

Advantages of reading for pleasure:
The reader can choose a book of his favorite genre, therefore
developing further/advanced skills in that hobby or possible career
(for me, chess). Through reading for pleasure, one may even develop a
love of reading in general. During these sessions, his
intellectual/analytical half of the brain is turned off, and the
reader is fully immersed into the words on the page, using all five
senses to explore. This is an alternative from the typical learning
in the classroom from the blackboard, and gives a chance for students
to apply the knowledge they have gained from the blackboard to real
life. Analogy: an APES field trip to a park to witness the reality of
what we're learning.