Rebecca,

 

Great article. Thanks for sharing.

 

 

Cynthia Roe

Instructional Specialist, Adult Education Programs

Continuing Education and Training

Carroll Community College

224 North Center Street

Westminster, MD 21157

410-386-2552

 

 

 

From: englishlanguage-bounces at nifl.gov
[mailto:englishlanguage-bounces at nifl.gov] On Behalf Of Rebeca Fernandez
Sent: Thursday, January 15, 2009 9:03 PM
To: The Adult English Language Learners Discussion List
Subject: RE: [EnglishLanguage 3401] Re: oral vs reading traditions

 

I've been following this thread with great interest. Both sides of this
debate have offered very compelling arguments, and I don't know if I can
take any definite stand on the issue at this point. In case you have not
brought this up, I just came across an interesting article on this same
topic in the New Atlantis at
http://www.thenewatlantis.com/publications/people-of-the-screen/ It's
called "People of the Screen" by Christine Rosen. 

 

Rebeca Fernandez

Central Piedmont Community College

Charlotte, North Carolina

 

________________________________

From: Michael Tate [mailto:mtate at sbctc.edu]
Sent: Wed 1/14/2009 5:24 PM
To: The Adult English Language Learners Discussion List
Subject: [EnglishLanguage 3401] Re: oral vs reading traditions

Steve, 

 

I think Star Trek had it right when Captain Kirk would interact with the
computer orally.  In more recent Star Treks, the book has re-appeared in
a digital format, but it is only used by those who have an antiquarian
interest in that technology.  We now possess the software to make the
Star Trek vision a reality.

 

Since we are born to do oral/aural communication, I doubt we will stick
with reading except for limited applications like making lists, etc.
People will go with what's easiest.  I noticed over the holidays that
someone has a little gizmo that will replace a grocery list.

 

 When you are paying your bills, do you do the sums in your head or on
paper?  If you are like most people, you track that on a calculator.
Some of us actually pay bills on line, so the computer keeps track of
that, and will even give you a yearly report if you ask for it.

 

Many computers now come with a screen reader, but if they don't,  you
can get one  very cheaply.  Software is also available that will let you
interface with your computer by giving oral commands and directions.
You can dictate emails, memos, reports, term papers, etc.  that can be
printed or emailed.  If you have a copy of Huckleberry Finn, you can
scan it in to your computer and have the computer read it to you.  

 

Computers also come with cameras, so you can do video-calls or meetings.


 

I don't agree that academic and professional information is not on the
web.  Most content is now on the web.  As more higher education entities
join Open Source agreements, there will be less and less that is not  on
the web.  

 

And, everything we do on a computer, we will soon be able to do on cell
phones, so the argument that this technology is out of reach for
low-income people isn't true.   I can ask my cell phone  to dial my
brother's phone number, and it does it.

 

As the demand for oral/aural software grows, ways to scan and to
highlight audiofiles will be refined.  We'll be able to sort key
statements and phrases.    Speed listening can be developed in much the
same way speed reading is.  We know from the long histories that
aboriginal people are able to do remember, that neither capacity or
accuracy will be a problem when speaking and listening replace reading
and writing.

 

So, we need to prepare our students for life in speaking and listening
world.  I was at Microsoft's School of the Future conference in Seattle
last month, and one of the presenters said that the changes I've been
talking about will happen  subliminally, and if we, by chance do sense
something happen, it will seem seductive.  

 

Michael Tate

 

From: englishlanguage-bounces at nifl.gov
[mailto:englishlanguage-bounces at nifl.gov] On Behalf Of Steve Kaufmann
Sent: Wednesday, January 14, 2009 12:25 PM
To: The Adult English Language Learners Discussion List
Subject: [EnglishLanguage 3397] Re: oral vs reading traditions

 

It is not a matter of audio books over print books. The reality is that
most of the information we need to access in academic and professional
situations is not available in audio form, and we are often required to
provide information in written form. Moreover, most of us can read much
faster than we listen. We can scan, we can easily focus on what is
important. Reading and writing are phenomenal inventions, that dwarf the
invention of the computer and digital sound files, in terms of their
impact on human development.

I have not heard a valid argument for saying that good literacy skills
are not important. 

	 

	 

________________________________

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