Why read books, not screens? ⏲️ 6 Minute English

Summary

In this episode of Six Minute English, hosts Phil and Georgie explore the impact of digital reading on our cognitive abilities. They discuss whether reading from screens is as beneficial as reading from paper, focusing on the concept of 'deep reading' and its importance for developing critical thinking and empathy. The episode also touches on the high volume of words we read daily, which can lead to skimming rather than deep engagement with the material. Cressida Cowell and Professor Maryanne Wolf contribute insights on the joys and benefits of reading, emphasizing the need for quality over quantity in our reading habits.

Takeaways

• 📚 Reading from books is preferred by some due to the sensory experience of turning pages and the smell of paper.
• 🖥 Despite personal preferences, digital screens have become the primary medium for reading due to the abundance of available information.
• 👀 Prolonged screen time can cause discomfort such as sore eyes, raising concerns about the potential impact on health and reading habits.
• ❓ The program poses questions about whether reading from screens could be harmful, particularly in terms of attention span and depth of comprehension.
• 📈 The average person now reads about 100,000 words per day, a significant increase attributed to digital reading.
• 🌟 Reading is associated with numerous benefits, including creativity, intelligence, and empathy, as emphasized by author Cressida Cowell.
• 💡 Reading for pleasure is linked to a child's future economic success and other positive life outcomes.
• 📘 'Deep reading' involves analyzing text to understand its deeper meaning, a skill that is said to develop better with physical books.
• 🧠 Professor Maryanne Wolf explains that deep reading activates more areas of the brain, fostering critical thinking and empathy.
• 🔍 Screen reading tends to encourage skimming, which is a more superficial approach to absorbing information.
• 🔄 The high volume of digital content can lead to a propensity for skimming, which may detract from the development of deep reading skills.

Q & A

What is the main topic of discussion in this episode of Six Minute English?

The main topic of discussion is whether reading from screens is harmless or if it could be damaging us in some way, such as reducing our attention span.

Why do some people prefer reading from paper instead of electronic screens?

Some people prefer reading from paper due to the tactile experience of turning pages and the smell of the paper, as well as the discomfort caused by too much screen time that can hurt their eyes.

What is the average number of words a person reads in a day according to the script?

The average person reads 100,000 words a day.

What are the three magical powers that reading brings according to Cressida Cowell?

Reading brings creativity, intelligence, and empathy.

What is the term used to describe the activity of reading for pleasure rather than for gaining something else?

The term is 'reading for the joy of it'.

What is 'deep reading' and why is it important for children's development?

'Deep reading' is analyzing a text to understand its deeper meaning. It is important because it helps develop critical thinking, analytic, and empathic skills.

How does reading from screens differ from reading from books according to Professor Maryanne Wolf?

Reading from screens encourages surface-level reading, quickly and superficially, while reading books activates different areas of the brain, allowing for the development of empathy and deeper understanding of texts.

What is 'skimming' and how does it relate to reading from screens?

'Skimming' is reading rapidly to get a general overview of the text. It is related to reading from screens because the volume of information and distractions encourages this type of reading.

What are the benefits of deep reading as mentioned by the script?

The benefits of deep reading include the development of positive traits like empathy, the ability to make analogies and inferences, and a deeper understanding of texts.

What is an analogy and how is it related to deep reading?

An analogy is a comparison between things that have similar features. It is related to deep reading because it requires a deeper understanding of the text to make meaningful comparisons.

What is an inference and how does it differ from skimming?

An inference is a guess, opinion, or conclusion made based on existing information. It differs from skimming because it involves deeper analysis and understanding rather than just getting a general overview.

Outlines

00:00

📚 The Impact of Screen Reading on 'Deep Reading' Skills

This paragraph from the Six Minute English video script discusses the love for traditional books and the reality of reading from electronic screens. It raises the question of whether the shift to digital reading could be harmful, such as by reducing our attention span. The script introduces the concept of 'deep reading' and its importance for developing critical thinking, empathy, and understanding through analogies and inferences. It contrasts this with the tendency for skimming when reading from screens, which may lead to a more superficial understanding of text. The segment also includes a quiz question about the average number of words a person reads daily, with a hint that the answer might be higher than expected.

05:02

📉 The Reality of Modern Reading Habits and Their Effects

In the second paragraph, the script reveals that the average person reads an astonishing 100,000 words a day, double the initial guess of 50,000. It then recaps the key vocabulary introduced in the program, such as 'attention span,' 'joy of reading,' 'surface level reading,' 'analogy,' 'inference,' and 'skimming.' The summary emphasizes the difference between the depth of understanding achieved through reading books versus the more cursory reading encouraged by screens. The paragraph concludes with a reminder of the time spent and a farewell from the hosts.

Keywords

💡Reading

Reading is the process of interpreting written or printed text to extract meaning. In the context of the video, reading is central to the discussion as it explores the differences between reading from paper and electronic screens. The script mentions the love for the tactile experience of reading a physical book and the prevalence of screen reading in modern times.

💡Screen Time

Screen time refers to the amount of time spent looking at a screen, such as a computer, smartphone, or tablet. The video script discusses the discomfort some people feel from excessive screen time, such as eye strain, and contrasts it with the traditional reading experience on paper.

💡Attention Span

Attention span is the length of time that someone can concentrate on a single task without getting distracted. The script raises the question of whether reading from screens might reduce our attention span, suggesting a potential impact of digital reading on our cognitive abilities.

💡Deep Reading

Deep reading is the act of thoroughly analyzing a text to understand its deeper meaning, making connections, and drawing inferences. The video emphasizes the importance of deep reading for developing critical thinking and empathy, and suggests that it is more effectively achieved through reading physical books.

💡Skimming

Skimming is a reading technique where one quickly scans a text to get a general idea without reading every word. The script contrasts skimming with deep reading, indicating that screens may encourage more superficial reading due to the volume of information and distractions.

💡Analogies

An analogy is a comparison between two things to highlight their similarities. The script uses the term to describe a deeper level of understanding that can be achieved through reading books, where one can make connections and see similarities between concepts.

💡Inferences

Inference is the process of making a conclusion or judgment based on evidence and reasoning rather than on explicit statement. The video script mentions inferences as part of the deep reading process, allowing readers to understand the underlying meaning of a text.

💡Cerebral Cortex

The cerebral cortex is the outer layer of the brain involved in higher brain functions, such as thinking and perception. The script refers to the cerebral cortex to explain that deep reading activates more areas of the brain, contributing to the development of empathy and critical thinking.

💡Economic Success

Economic success refers to achieving prosperity or wealth, often measured by factors like income, employment, and property ownership. The video script cites Cressida Cowell, who links the joy of reading to economic success later in life, suggesting that literacy and the love of reading can lead to better life outcomes.

💡Literacy

Literacy is the ability to read and write, and it is often associated with broader cognitive and social skills. In the script, literacy is discussed as a key factor for various benefits, including economic success, lower likelihood of imprisonment, and civic engagement.

💡Surface Level Reading

Surface level reading is a shallow approach to reading where one only grasps the basic or superficial information without delving deeper. The video contrasts surface level reading with deep reading, indicating that screens might promote the former due to the overwhelming amount of information and distractions.

Highlights

Reading from electronic screens is becoming more common, even for those who prefer physical books.

Excessive screen time can cause discomfort such as sore eyes.

The debate on whether reading from screens is harmless or damaging, particularly to attention span.

The average person now reads 100,000 words per day, double the initial guess of 50,000.

Reading for the joy of it brings creativity, intelligence, and empathy, according to Cressida Cowell.

Reading for pleasure is linked to economic success, lower prison rates, voting, and home ownership.

The concept of 'deep reading' involves analyzing text to understand its deeper meaning.

Deep reading skills develop better when kids read from physical books, as per research.

Professor Maryanne Wolf explains that deep reading uses more of the cerebral cortex.

Deep reading allows for critical thinking, analysis, and empathy development.

The volume of digital information encourages skimming rather than deep reading.

Reading from screens tends to promote surface-level reading, quickly grasping easy-to-understand information.

Reading books activates different brain areas, fostering traits like empathy and deeper understanding.

An analogy is a comparison between similar things, aiding in deeper understanding.

An inference is a conclusion based on existing information, a key part of deep reading.

Skimming is described as rapid reading for a general overview, common with screen reading.

The importance of how we read, not just what or how much, for developing critical cognitive skills.

Transcripts

Hello, this is Six Minute English from BBC Learning English.

I'm Phil. And I'm Georgie.

For me, there's nothing like reading a book –

I love turning the pages and the smell of the paper.

But nowadays, the fact is that much of the time we read

from electronic screens, not paper.

Yes, like Georgie, I love books.

I also find that too much screen time hurts my eyes.

But the availability of digital information means

that I end up reading from screens most days.

So, apart from sore eyes, is this a problem?

Is reading from screens harmless, or could it be damaging us in some way,

such as reducing our attention span – the length of time

that someone can keep concentrated on what they are doing?

That's what we'll be discussing in this program,

and of course, we'll be learning some useful new vocabulary too.

Great. But first, it's time for my question. Whether you prefer paper

or screens, as humans we're now reading more words than ever before.

So how many words does the average person read a day?

Is it a) 50,000 words?

b) 100,000 words? or, c) 200,000 words?

I'll guess it's 50,000 words a day.

OK, Georgie, we'll find out the correct answer later in the programme.

Of course, there's little doubt that any kind of reading is good for you.

Here's Cressida Cowell, author of the 'How to Train

Your Dragon' children's books, speaking with BBC Ideas.

Reading brings three magical powers – creativity, intelligence and empathy.

Reading for the joy of it is one of the two key factors in

a kid's later economic success.

You're more likely to not be in prison, to vote, to own your own home.

All of these advantages and benefits happen as a result of literacy.

Cressida talks about the importance of reading for the joy of it.

When you do an activity for the joy of it,

you do it simply for the pleasure of doing it,

rather than as a way to gain something else.

Cressida lists the many benefits of reading for children,

including economic success in later life.

But many of these benefits depend on a state known as 'deep reading',

analysing a text to understand its deeper meaning.

And in test after test, researchers have shown

that 'deep reading' skills develop better when kids read from books.

Professor Maryanne Wolf is a teacher,

and advocate for children's literacy around the world.

Here, she explains more about 'deep reading' to BBC Ideas.

When we read at a surface level, we're just getting the information.

When we read deeply, we use much more of our cerebral cortex.

Deep reading means that we make analogies,

we make inferences, which allows us to be truly critical,

analytic, empathic human beings.

The reality is, it's not what, or how much, we read, but how we read,

that's really important.

The very volume is having negative effects

because to absorb that much, there's a propensity towards skimming.

Professor Wolf's research shows that reading from screens encourages reading

at the surface level, quickly and superficially

looking at what can be easily understood.

Reading books, on the other hand, activates different areas of the brain,

allowing a reader to develop positive traits like empathy,

and to understand the deeper level of a book,

including analogies and inferences.

An analogy is a comparison between things that have similar features.

For example, you might talk about the human heart using the analogy of a pump.

An inference is a guess, opinion,

or conclusion that you make based on the information you already have.

For example, seeing smoke in the distance, you would make an inference

that there's fire.

It's these types of deeper, more subtle understanding that we get

from reading books.

So, why is it that reading from screens doesn't develop these skills

in the same way?

Well, the answer has to do with the volume,

the sheer number of words, pings and notifications that screens bombard us

with every day.

Instead of deep reading, this encourages skimming – reading rapidly

in order to get a general overview of something.

I think it's time to reveal the answer to my question, Georgie.

I asked you, how many words does the average modern person read a day.

And I guessed it was 50,000 words.

Well, you were half right.

In fact, the correct answer was double that, 100,000 words.

Right, let's recap the vocabulary we've learned from this programme,

starting with 'attention span',

the length of time that someone can stay concentrated on one thing.

If you do something for the joy of it, you do it simply

for the pleasure you get, rather than as a way to get something else.

The phrase 'on the surface level', describes looking at something quickly

and superficially rather than trying to understand its full, deeper meaning.

An analogy is a comparison between things that have similar features,

for example, a human heart and a pump,

and an inference is a guess or conclusion that you make

based on the information you already have,

like inferring fire from seeing smoke.

And finally, skimming is reading rapidly

in order to get a general overview of the text being read.

Once again, our six minutes are up.

Goodbye for now! Bye!