WORLD LITERACY DAY ACTIVITIES AS COMMEMORATED IN MY ENGLISH CLASS-A.K Shogbuyi

I am Adebola Karamah Shogbuyi, a secondary school English teacher with the Lagos State Ministry of Education, a research student and also a guest blogger at Elt-Reflections.com.

I'm happy to share with you my classroom activities after commemorating World's Literacy Day with my students.

In my school, the World Literacy Day commemoration activities started from the morning assembly with an awareness of what the 8th of September, stands for.

Many of my students knew a day like that exists but could not match the date with the name.

In conjunction with other teachers did a few minutes of sensitization to explain the importance and need for acquiring literacy skills and why we must embrace literacy and shun illiteracy.

SPELLING PUZZLE

We began with spelling puzzles organized for the learners.

Four words were picked and wrongly arranged (scattered) on big cardboard. The word was not pronounced to them but they were given their meaning as a key to deciphering the word.

The learners were given the chance to arrange the words correctly.

Interestingly, The first person to arrange a word correctly got a gift.

These are some of the

examples of words I presented on the puzzle cardboard:

CAFAED- The front view of a building.

Answer: FACADE

MUTGA- A wide range

Answer: GAMUT

CLASSROOM ACTIVITIES

In the classroom, I engaged the learners with the following literacy activities which made the students' day because it was fun.

In their various classes, learners were allowed to express themselves about what literacy means, and their answers were quite interesting; one of which was 'it means learning the English language.

To the boy who attempted the question, whoever does not speak, read or write English is illiterate.

Another one said "It has to do with literature, it is the reading, writing and expression of oneself" which wasn't a bad one either.

Having allowed them to express themselves, they were further enlightened that literacy means the ability to read and write(in any language).

The main reason why emphasis is laid on learning the English language in Nigeria is that it is our official language and learning to read and write opens the door for a gamut of opportunities.

However, someone who can write another language such as French, Hausa, or Yoruba cannot be said to be illiterate.

IMPORTANCE OF ACQUIRING LITERACY

Some of the benefits of being literate were explained to them as seen on the cards:

*I write to communicate effectively.

*I write my way to the top.

*By reading, my vocabulary improves.

*By reading, I get more confident.

*Reading improves my writing skills e.t.c.

MATERIALS THAT CAN BE READ

The students mentioned materials that they have read, such as :

Short stories

Drama texts

History books

Magazines

Novels (Fictions and Non-Fictions)

Articles

Textbooks etc.

In addition to what they mentioned, they were told that millions of books can be in hard copy in soft copies.

It is in the 'hard copy' when published as a book that can be held and in 'soft copy' when it has not been printed.

They were told that millions of books that used to be only in hard copies are now available online, in soft copies and they can avail themselves of it without hassles.

My STUDENTS' TESTIMONIES ABOUT READING BOOKS

One of them said he learnt in a book that 'horses don't sleep lying down.

Another said, his character has improved based on the moral books he read.

Another student said, she now writes well because she loves to read.

Finally, learners who wished to get a book were granted access to any book of their interest from the school's library.

They are to retell the story in a week.

Dear teachers of English,

Today meant a lot to me as I was able to make a lasting memory of the importance of embracing literacy skills in my learners.

I'll be glad to know what you've done differently today.

THANKS FOR READING!!!

Adebola Karamah Shogbuyi.

PhD student, Lagos State University, Nigeria.