Choosing YAL

Reading is not one of my favourite hobbies. However, recently, I realized that slowly I am moving into that habit. I don't know, may be one best reason that I can say is that I was forced to. Sometimes, forcing is quite a good trick for theachers to be used to encourage their students to do something. Like I said, I was forced to read the YAL at first, but now I am looking forward to get another YAL as a reading material.

In choosing the best materials, the most important thing that I look into is the author. For me, if the author is well known, of course, the writing is good. I will ask my friends' suggestion before choosing the book.

Another important characteristics is the theme and the storyline. My faourite the is investigation and of course love story. But, somtimes, to attarct young adult, the best theme is the one that reflects who they are in real life as young adults.

To know the brief storyline of the book, I love to read the synopsis. By reading it I can evaluate whether I like it or not. Choosing the best YAL material is important as it can reflect our interest into the reading habit.

My favourite K-12 teacher

Like I said before, i've never had any experience with any of literature teacher before. since i was in kindergarden until i finish my secondary school, i've never learnt literature. However, if I were to have one experience learning literature, what is the favourite characteristic my teacher should have?

First of all, I would like to have such an understanding teacher. What i meant by understanding is that the teacher knows how to tackle her students attention by choosing young adult literature taht reflects 'us' as young adults. For me it doesn't matter whether the teacher follows the syllabus or not as long as she can create a very interesting classroom environment. This is important as literature might not be liked by some learners (I'm reffering to me..).

Other than that, I would like the teacher who can encourage her students to read. She has to motivate the students by being a guide or coach for the students. This is because, a teacher is the best place for students to get information of any kind.

Range & Diversity

To have a unique country is quite an honourable experience for me as Malaysian. However, it is such a challenge for teachers to teach in a variety of studens in one classroom. Teaching literature with different range and cultural diversity of readers is another chaalange for teahcers. However, literature can sometimes helps teachers to be more creative in inventing a creative learning experience for students.

To face this kind of problem, first of all, the teacher need to get to know problems are faced by this different kind of readers. What are their favourite? How capable are they in reading? What are their concern? Or maybe what problems may occur around them? To tackle this kind of readers, teachers sometimes need to be like them. The teacher need to be someone who is really understanding and can motivate them to read and change it as a habit.

Sometimes there are students who have the ability to read, but they do not enjoy reading. There are students who love reading but they are not as capable as they are. And there are also students who are neither of the students who are able to read nor who love reading.

So, as a teacher, we need to provide a wide range of learning experience for this different kind of students.