Readers become Leaders

We have a new learner in our Kids Club class. Teacher Lien has asked that he spend time with me so that his spoken English will (hopefullly!) improve.  Shy and reticent our new friend was reluctant to speak out in front of his co-workers,  however, the more “established” boys and girls rapidly translated what I was asking first into Afrikaans and, if that wasn’t too readily received, into isiXhosa.  As I listened to them all rapidly vacillating between at least three languages I was impressed to say the least!

What do you call a person who speaks three languages?

Trilingual

What do you call someone who speaks two languages?

Bilingual

What do you call someone who only speaks one language?

British!

I am British by birth – South African by choice!  (But still basically only speak one language fluently).  So this afternoon I will be attempting to assist these young children to become fluent in a universal language and hopefully give them a bit of a head start in better understanding the world we all live in. 

How many children’s’ stories have you and I read to our children/grandchildren over the years?  Hundreds? Maybe even thousands?  Words on a page that have become alive and vivid in a little person’s  imagination;  readers become leaders.

As we read aloud to these eager recipients their comprehension is increased, their love for reading is ignited and their ability to speak and understand a second language is improved.

Perhaps you have an hour or more per week to volunteer as a reader at Siphila Sonke, if so please contact Tina Johnson 021 859 0001 or office@siphilasonke.org.za and make a difference in someone’s life.