Reading can save marriages

BarcelonaThere is a party that makes protagonists of the boys and girls who have the most important superpower taught at school: the pleasure of reading. Perhaps they don't yet know that this passion will serve them for life, because for now they go unnoticed in the classroom, but Clark Kent will always become Superman. This week we have infiltrated the Champions of young readers: the final party of the Public Reading Competition organized for twenty-two years by the Fundació Enciclopèdia Catalana. Fundació Enciclopèdia Catalana.

At the doors of the L'Illa Diagonal auditorium, there are no nerves but satisfaction. Here arrive the eighty or so students between 8 and 16 years old who have won the elimination rounds by territories, in which 4,157 children from 1,329 educational centers in the country have participated. Perhaps not all of them play handball in the playground, but they have an intonation worthy of Clara Segura and a profound neutrality like a valley. There is a small group that comes from the Institut Font del Ferro in Palafolls, a center that has a very active reading club and a top-division poetry program. We don't need to expect adolescents to go to social networks to look for a community of book lovers: the institute has given them this safe space within the school.

What is the purpose of reading aloud? "To enjoy reading, learn oral expression, articulate a speech, gain confidence, and overcome stage fright. Furthermore, they are people with many cultural interests, which perhaps remain hidden in the classroom because they lack spaces for projection," says professor Joan Hernández. His uncle, Josep Hernández, who coincidentally works at the same high school in Palafolls, adds: "The brightest students do not receive the attention or resources that we dedicate to conflict cases. But attention to diversity also means not forgetting the top of the table." His students, Paula, Ivet, and Valèria, in addition to being readers, do theater, dance, and music, respectively, and adore the stage.

Neurologists' recipe

"Reading aloud integrates all cerebral capacities; thinking, understanding, expressing oneself, interfering, questioning... and involves all senses. But, in addition, it has a social component. As Teresa Colomer says, we read alone, but we learn to be readers with others," explains Mireia Pi, editorial director of Enciclopèdia. Reading ability is directly related, of course, to good grades. "The differentiating factor in good academic results is having access to books and having reading role models, be they parents, teachers, classmates. Parents should not stop reading aloud to their children, at least throughout primary school, even if they are already autonomous readers. Not only for what it implies emotionally, but also because they need a role model," explains Pi. It would also be good for them to see us reading as a family, because adults' reading before going to sleep ends up being individual and clandestine.

The one who has spent the whole course reading aloud at home is Hidaya Hajjaj, 14 years old. Her mother says so, translated by her younger son. The family is accompanied by Professor Cristina Goenaga, tutor of the welcome classroom at Escola Pia de Mataró, who certifies that the project has brought about a change: "Hidaya was an insecure girl who went unnoticed. The competition has been a personal challenge. She has worked hard and this has made her grow, improved her self-esteem, made her the protagonist of the class and she has learned Catalan with this excuse," she explains.

Gina, Marina and Arlet, from Igualada, are great readers, especially of romantic novels. For the competition they chose to read Now that we are together, by Roc Casagran. The titles that come up the most are The Little Prince and Harry Potter, but also Mercè Rodoreda or J.D. Salinger. Now that Encyclopedia has run out of La Galera, the mandatory readings of the contest will incorporate books from the Llegintmés label, which they have just started. "The competition is a tool for schools, to improve linguistic skills, and it is a learning experience for students who will use the language in the future at work and in life," summarizes the coordinator, Vanessa Ortega. Kate's father, from Escola Llissach de Santpedor, confirms it from the audience: "One of my failures is that I have the intelligence but not the confidence in my communicative ability. Today, it is essential. I think you will have more opportunities and a greater possibility of success if you know how to express yourself well. Even with a partner it is important to know how to communicate!", he states. Reading can also save marriages.