7 Speed Reading Software

Will Fast Food Make Children Better Readers?

November 11, 2013

This month, the global fast-food company McDonald’s has been putting books instead of toys into their “Happy Meals.” By the end of this second and final week of the campaign, the company anticipates distributing over 20 million paperback books. The books aren’t copies of childhood favorites, however; they’re four different food-centered books commissioned by the McDonald’s corporation. On the other hand, books like “The Goat Who Ate Everything” might be just the thing to get kids into reading more. In addition, the four books (and their Spanish-language versions) are available on the company’s website, and more books will be added over the next year.

Making books more popular with children is definitely something to support and encourage, and it’s good to see an international corporation putting the power of its distribution and advertising behind the effort. There are an estimated 310,000 public libraries worldwide – almost 10 times more than the approximately 34,000 McDonald’s franchises. And yet it’s quite likely that the average child in North America, Australia, or Europe has gone to a McDonald’s (or at least through the drive-up window) more often this month than they have gone to the library. Making time to visit the library, even if it’s just once a week or twice a month to stock up on reading material, means that children will have good books at home to read at any time, and that will feed their hunger for reading and learning.

While many people have applauded the book-distribution campaign, other people have been a bit more skeptical, saying that this is just another advertising ploy to make fast food seem more healthy overall. There’s even a #mcbooks hashtag where people have been suggesting titles for future Happy Meals, like “Catcher in the Fry” and “Lord of the Fries.” Here at 7 Speed Reading, we’re happy to see anything that connects children and books, and we hope that once kids get a taste for reading along with their hamburger, they’ll be looking for more food for thought at their local library.

Henrik Edberg Features Tips For Positive Outcomes at www.PositivityBlog.com

November 6, 2013

Sometimes simply believing that you can succeed takes you halfway to success. There are a lot of things that you can do to improve your life, and improve your outlook on life – and many times those two approaches are connected. Self-improvement is a good way to raise your opinion of yourself, and it’s not long before that improvement will be noticed by others as well. Positive feedback leads to a more positive outlook, and encourages you to further growth and development. For an ever-growing collection of easy ways to get started on what can be a hard process for some people, go to Henrik Edberg’s website, www.PositivityBlog.com.

7S: You’ve been focused on all aspects of creating a better life for some time now, and it’s obvious that this focus has radically changed your own life. How much of the process was (or is) related to changes in attitude and thought, and how much was devoted to learning new skills or ways of doing things?

HE: Both played a big role. For me it started with for example taking a leap of faith and giving a more optimistic attitude a chance. I reinforced this attitude and saw that it did really helped me to do better in life by learning skills such as how to be more of a person of action. So they have worked together as I combined positive thinking with taking action on those new thoughts and through that I got better results.

7S: Here at 7 Speed Reading we emphasize the time factor frequently – in other words, the less time you spend getting through piles of documents, the more time you have to use that information, or do something else. However, even with help like that people don’t often have a lot of time on their hands. What are some quick ways that people can put the principles of positivity into effect in their lives?

HE: One simple and effective thing they can use in their everyday life is to ask themselves better and more helpful questions like:

– What is one thing that is positive or good about this situation?
– What can I learn from this situation?
– What is the opportunity within this situation?

These questions will let them tap into a more constructive and optimistic perspective in any area of life.

7S: Two of your four courses focus on simplicity, and on simplifying one’s life. Why does this make a difference?

HE: Simplifying life makes just about anything easier. You’ll have more free time. You’ll have less stress and worries. You’ll likely have more money left to spend on what you truly want (rather than stuff that may buy on impulse). Your relationships will feel lighter and be happier.

7S: “The power of positive thinking” is a phrase coined by Dr. Norman Peale in the mid-20th century, but it still has resonance in the 21st century. What is your opinion on this phrase and the idea behind it?

HE: I think that that there is a lot of power to positive thinking. More than many may see. Because when you are stuck in a negative attitude then it is difficult to imagine how much different life can be if you make this change in how you think. That was certainly the case for me 10 years ago. I couldn’t have imagined how much positive thinking would change my life.

7S: What’s the question that people ask you most frequently – and what’s your answer?

HE: Probably: “How do I stop procrastinating?”. Here’s what I usually answer:

The solution is to reduce the pressure and expectations as much as possible.

Because if you see a big task or project or just the daunting pile of dishes in front of you then that causes some kind of pain or resistance inside of you. So you shy away from doing it and go do something that feels better instead like playing video games or checking the email for the fifth time before lunch.

So here’s what I do:

I tell myself that I only have to work for 2 minutes on this task today. Then I can continue another day.

If that still doesn’t get me going I just ask myself for 1 minute of work. And I can do it that one minute of work in a very relaxed pace if I want.

When I only have to make such a minimal effort it doesn’t feel big or hard or uncomfortable anymore. It may not feel like fun either. Usually, it just is and I do that minute or two of work.

After that I almost never just quit. Instead, I often tell myself: “OK, those minutes weren’t so bad really”. And so I continue for half an hour or more. Or I may ignite a small spark of enthusiasm or kick-start a little bit of forward momentum. And so a whole lot of work usually gets done.

Make the start as easy and light as you can. Be kind to yourself in this way and you’ll be amazed at how much you can get started and done with that you have been procrastinating on for quite some time.

Thank you for the opportunity and I hope your readers will find the answers helpful!

My best wishes,

Henrik

When Kids Devour Books Instead of Candy

November 1, 2013

More than 100 books were handed out to princesses, vampires, superheroes, ghosts, and zombies last night by Professor Gary Fox, of Fairview, Missouri. Why did he choose to give trick-or-treaters a copy of “Robinson Crusoe” instead of a pack of Reese’s Pieces, or one of the popular “A Series of Unfortunate Events” books by Lemony Snicket rather than a Snickers Bar? According to an interview with the Columbia Missourian, Fox likes the idea that a treat of a new book is something that will last a long time, and even shared with others.

Sharing books with children doesn’t have to be a once-a-year event. Like Professor Fox, you can visit thrift stores, used book stores, and yard sales or swap meets for children’s books, and pick them up free or at a very small cost. Libraries are another good resource; you can sign up to get your child a library card, or profit from a library book sale. For a child, it often doesn’t matter if the book is a little tattered, or has some torn pages – if they’ve never read the book before, it’s new to them.

A piece of candy is a nice treat, but books will feed a child’s mind. When you help children learn to love the many styles and flavors of books available for their age group (or above!) you’ll open their minds to new worlds, and encourage them to seek out new reading material for themselves. When they enjoy reading, they’ll have a resource for vocabulary and language skills that will help them get good grades in school all year. So stock your shelves with books instead of sweets, and you’ll have a store of treats you can hand out any time!

You can read the interview with Professor Fox at the newspaper’s website here.

Higher Education Is Within Your Reach, Says Don Osborne At www.Inquarta.com

October 30, 2013

Getting through your first four years at university is challenging enough, but if you have aspirations to continue your education and go to graduate school, you’ll be facing an application process that can be daunting for many people. The requirements for acceptance in the best medical schools and law schools are designed to make sure that only smart, qualified people get in. But keep in mind that “smart” not only means “intelligent,” it also means “knowing how to succeed.” There are many things that you can do to improve your chances of being accepted into a degree program, and Don Osborne knows them all. At his website www.Inquarta.com, he shares his smarts with you.

7S: When people think about applying for graduate school, they often only think about the entrance examination, such as the GRE (Graduate Records Examination) or MCAT (Medical College Application Test). However, that’s often almost the last step in the application process. What’s the real starting point?

DO: Some students may consider studying for the MCAT as the real starting point,Some would say it’s the first day of college. But it’s not always the case .

7S: Everyone’s heard the catchphrase “it’s not what you know, it’s who you know.” Does this apply to graduate school admissions as well?

DO: Not really. Graduate school admissions is a weird mix of merit and a flat-out race. So if your application is in sooner than mine, you may have a better chance of getting accepted, even if your gpa and admissions test score are a little lower than mine.

7S: While there are many issues and strategies that apply to aspiring students across the board, everyone’s situation is a little bit different. What types of help and counseling do you offer on an individual basis?

DO: I have three different types of help:

First, traditional admissions consulting is very expensive … several thousand dollars is not unusual. I’ve always felt that that made it really difficult for a lot of students, so I created a series of online courses — videos plus workbook — to help students answer a wide range of questions. What are my chances / how do I look compared to others? How do I prepare for the application / what should I write about? What should I expect / how do I prepare for my admissions interviews?

Second, I know that premed students are really, really concerned about their MCAT scores. And I know that a lot of students feel they need to get into a commercial test prep course to help them improve, review the content and practice. But traditional courses run into the thousands of dollars, so that can be a real strain for students who either don’t want to spend that much money, or don’t feel that it’s fair to their family to burden them with another big bill.

So that’s why I created “The MCAT Club.” It’s a combination of an MCAT review course, plus a weekly live conference call where you can ask questions, get help from experts, all for $9 a month. It’s a pretty good deal that I’m really excited about. (You can learn more at http://www.inquarta.com/mcat-club).

7S: What’s the real impact of a person’s university GPA on their chances of getting into an MBA or law school program?

DO: Well for law school, your gpa is probably 40 to 50% of the total decision-making process, and your LSAT score is another 30-40%; the rest is subjective. For MBA school, your professional work experiences and your GMAT score are far more important than your GPA.

7S: Some people have a clear idea of what they want to do as a career, but for others, it takes a while. Is it ever too late to apply for law school or medical school?

DO: It may be too late to apply for people let’s say 50 years of age for medical school. But not for law school. It’s two different scenarios. In medical school, you need to complete four years of medical school, then apply for a residency program which can be very stressful since you are on call all the time. There’s a physical aspect involved in this. While law school is not and can be a big plus for seniors. Large corporation do hire seniors as corporate lawyers, senior management positions. It only studying in law compared to the physical stress factor in medical school.

Learning to Love Reading Is Like Magic

October 28, 2013

When children who are struggling to learn to read suddenly find the key to solving their problems, it’s as if someone has waved a magic wand and transformed their lives. Reading opens doors, helps people learn new ways to think about things, and provides information on any subject. Without the ability to read, we would be missing out on many things that enrich and improve our lives.

Although we often associate people who have a hard time reading with the uneducated, the lower class, and people living in poverty, conditions like dyslexia affect people at every level of society. In an interview earlier this year done to promote a literacy and literature festival in London, Princess Beatrice of York, one of the granddaughters of Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II, talked about how she discovered that a love of reading helped her overcome literacy problems caused by dyslexia. As quoted in The Daily Telegraph, she said that once she started reading the Harry Potter books, “… suddenly reading was fun. Reading was inspiring and I was motivated … I couldn’t put the books down.”

Reluctant readers will not become speed readers. If you’re reading at a slower pace because you don’t enjoy reading, look for something that will spark your imagination. When you’re reading more, you’ll have more opportunities to work on your reading skills. You can practice using the sweeping technique to learn to read smoothly and easily, or work on widening your focus so that you can read more words at once and increase your reading speed.

Pick up a book and start reading now. As you can see, even if you choose a work of fantasy, your speed reading dreams will soon be a reality, if you just keep reading!

Leo Fuchigami’s New Approach To Studying At HackMyStudy.com

October 23, 2013

There’s nothing more frustrating than spending hours on end reading and reviewing study materials, only to come away feeling as if you know less than you did when you started. This isn’t limited just to your college years – it’s a problem for students of all ages, at all levels of education, and with a variety of educational goals. The solution, says Leo Fuchigami, is to know how to study. At his website HackMyStudy.com he provides the keys you need to make your study time efficient and effective.

7S: Tell us a bit about yourself. Were you inspired to set up this website because of your experiences as a student?

LF: My name is Leo Fuchigami, and I would describe myself as an aspiring “Jack of All Trades.” I am particularly fond of this description because of its historical context. In the early renaissance era, this phrase was used synonymously with the term “Renaissance Man,” which was a title bestowed on only the most eclectically well accomplished (e.g. Shakespeare, De Vinci, etc.). However, some time later, this phrase was appended with “Master of None,” giving it a negative connotation. Even today, people like to categorize themselves as generalists and specialists, which, depending on your perspective can have either a positive or negative nuance.

I recall the exact moment that the idea of sharing my study hacks came to me. It was right before the final exams season of the first semester of my last year of university. A friend expressed to me his grief over not having started reading the 500+ page course textbook for one of his business classes. I showed him a few memorization and speed-reading tactics that were already a staple in my study habits. He was extremely grateful and said, “Why didn’t you tell me this 4 years ago!” That evening, I decided to build hackmystudy.com. What was particularly interesting about that decision was that I had never built a website or written self-help articles before. I had to learn how to do it as I was doing it.

7S: Two of your “top ten tips” for studying actually encourage people to not study! Why should already-busy students develop a hobby or spend time socializing?

LF: I wouldn’t say I encourage people to not study, but rather, the focus should be on living a well-balanced life. Sacrificing your physical, spiritual, mental and social health will inevitably have repercussion on your academics. Taking a break from a long-winded study session to exercise for 20 minutes can do wonders for your concentration and memory. Similarly, effective memorization requires an incubation and review period. Cramming everything in in one session, then moving on to the next topic will result in very low retention rates. Sometimes ideas and concepts need to sink in, subconsciously, over some period of time, then reviewed to ensure that it has been cemented into long-term memory. If you’re going to take a break, why not enjoy life and live a well-balanced life?

7S: Obviously, the less time it takes a student to read through a text, the more text they’ll be able to get through. What are some other advantages of learning to speed read?

LF: The foundation of human society is language. All animals have the ability to remember, teach and learn. However, what truly differentiates us from other animals is our ability to immortalize knowledge and expertise through recorded language (traditionally written, though now it can take the form of videos, podcasts, etc.). Thus, we can build on the knowledge of our forefathers instead of spending our entire lives figuring out the same problems that were solved by those that came out before us.

Written language is still, to this day, the primary form of communicating the collective knowledge and expertise of mankind. The ability to digest this information at two or three times the rate of others can only result in a more well-informed and well-balanced person.

But, that is a very abstract argument. On a day-to-day basis, the time saved could be spent towards other endeavors.

7S: While most tests and exams in college are handed out and filled in on paper, students have to use the computer to do research and to write and print out papers and essays. You’ve got information on the techniques of speed writing and speed typing – which do you recommend people focus on first?

LF: Definitely speed reading. It’s simple logic, really. Most activities in academics, be it exams or homework, require substantial more time reading rather than typing. Generally speaking, you have to read the question, research solutions, write the solution then review the solution. 3 out of 4 of those steps require reading or interpreting, which is an input, while the third point (writing the solution) is the only output, which may or may not involve typing.

7S: On your “Resources” page you link to some of the universities that are offering MOOCs (Massive Open Online Courses), like MIT and UC Berkeley. Is online education changing the way people study?

LF: Yes! I can’t list them all, but I’ll try to list some of the main reasons why I think so.

1. Lessons and programs will be subject to the dynamics of a competitive market. The best classes will rise to the top and the lesser classes will need to adapt. This means that students and teachers alike will be exposed to higher quality lessons, sometimes magnitudes better than what is available locally.

2. The internet is a very malleable place, allowing for all sorts of experiments and alterations in methodology and delivery. Statistics can be obtained in engagement levels throughout the lecture, similar to what YouTube provides content creators, so that the class developer can adapt and modify that parts where viewers tend to tune-out. Quizzes, interactive activities and real-time discussions can be inserted in pivotal moments that completely change the way we learn from the teacher, other classmates and external resources.

3. Choice. No longer are we limited to the classes offered in our schools or the resources we can afford. Online education is breaking down the barrier to entry for even highly specialized topics.

Another point I want to bring up related to online education is the gamification of learning. Sites like Duolingo.com are the way of the future with regard to casual education. Our lives are so incredibly dynamic and chaotic, with a seemingly infinite barrage of choices, messages and stimulus, that the un-stimulating classroom structure is bound to become less and less effective for future generations as their minimum required threshold for interactivity and immediate gratification increases. Gamification is a major component of the overall solution to this problem. We need to use the same tools that the IT industry uses to optimize their offerings to meet the needs of their clients.

Online education is changing the way people study, but what’s more important is that online education should change the way we perceive studying. Hopefully, it will result in more people viewing education as a life-long endeavour that is enjoyable and rewarding.

Cross-posted at the Ultimate Typing blog.

Tell Me What You Read …

October 21, 2013

The French gourmet, philosopher, and lawyer Jean Anthelme Brillat-Savarin is perhaps most well known for this quote: “Tell me what you eat, and I will tell you what you are.” In other words, what a person prefers on their plate can say a lot about what goes on inside their head. Evaluating or judging people by what they eat is something most of us do unconsciously, just as we evaluate people by what they wear and how they speak. Don’t you have a different attitude towards someone sipping champagne than you do when you see someone with an oversized soda from the nearest fast-food outlet? It works the other way as well – we’re generally more conscious of what we’re eating when people are observing us.

What applies to food choices also applies to book selection. Several studies have been done that evaluate people’s personality based on the books they read. For example, extroverts in the studies were more likely to choose books that were people-focused, about sports and entertainment, but they also preferred books with horror- or history-based plots. Readers who regularly went to art events and classical concerts were naturally more likely to choose books on art, music, and fantasy. The studies also found that people who had highly-regulated habits were more likely to read books about science or politics.

Perhaps most interesting is the possibility that reading choices can influence how and what we think, as well. If you’re an introvert, can reading books about outgoing, social people help you overcome your shyness in group situations? If you’re generally fairly disorganized, can choosing precisely-written books on mathematics, physics, or astronomy help you get a more scientific approach to your daily schedule? Reading books on a variety of subjects will add to your knowledge base and expand your mind – and it just might change your mind as well.

Click to read more about the studies done in 1995, in 2004, and in 2011.

Speed Reading Techniques From Martin Sam And www.ShilinSpeedReading.co.za

October 16, 2013

Speed reading is an important skill, as people around the world know. There are schools and organizations that teach speed reading in Europe, Australia, the Americas, and especially in Asia, where many countries are focused on becoming an even bigger part of the international economy. Africa is now home to a well-known speed reading institute that actually got its start in Europe 20 years ago, when the Ukranian businessman and reading expert Dmitry Shilin turned his own speed reading experience into a popular course. Today, the Shilin Speed Reading Institute is based in Cape Town, South Africa, and is helping thousands of people read faster. We talked to Managing Director Martin Sam about the program.

7S: When you joined the program in 2012, you brought your perspectives from a background in self-improvement and self-empowerment. How does speed reading connect with and contribute to these important goals?

MS: In my opinion it’s absolutely critical in two areas:

– Obviously from a personal point of view Speed Reading is highly valuable to your self-development. Reading allows you to learn from the mistakes and lessons of others without having to go through them yourself.

Also with the amount of information available today and the rate at which that information becomes obsolete, we need to be continually learning and keeping up to date. But we still process information at a rate of speed our ancestors did 100 – 400 years ago (one statistic I read claims that the average reading speed today is actually lower than the average reading rates of the 1970s and 80s).

It’s like trying to run Windows 8 on a 20 year old personal computer, which could explain increasing stress levels of students in schools, universities and in the work environment.

– Regarding the course, we dedicate a large proportion of time to the self-improvement and self-empowerment of our clients. I have found personally with my own reading and with our clients that the biggest hindrance to achieving great reading speeds are our self-limiting beliefs on what is and is not possible.

Current reading methodologies are so deeply ingrained and have become so accepted that when faced with another reality your subconscious mind will come up with whatever strategy it can to fight the new belief system in an attempt to protect the old belief system.

If you absolutely knew that you could read 10 times faster than you do now, would you not be interested in being able to develop that ability? One of the homework exercises we give to our students is to come up of three reasons why it is impossible to read three words at the same time. Nobody has been able to come up with real reason yet. I believe it’s because there isn’t one. We’ve just been so conditioned to believe it’s the only way.

We believe it is completely natural for anyone to be able to read 10, 20 or even 50 times faster than they currently do now. You just need to be dedicated to put in the work to be able to do it.

Speed reading is more than a skill or about reading books faster, it’s a paradigm shift in the way we think and learn and if you don’t keep up with the rest of the world as it evolves you will become extinct.

7S: What makes the Shilin method different from other speed reading programs?

MS: The Shilin Speed Reading Program is different for a number of reasons. In comparison to the other speed reading programs that I have had experience with the methodologies we use are very different. The fundamentals are the same as with many of the other speed reading programs but our approach to increasing your reading speed is different.

We do not use techniques to enhance the way you read now, but we actually train your brain to be able to absorb and process more information than you are currently doing now. In essence we are continuing from where your teachers stopped training you to read when you were 7 years old.

We don’t use finger or reading guides to guide your eyes while reading. When you have undergone enough training using the Shilin Speed Reading method you will be able to look at a large piece of text and be able to understand it instantaneously without reading linearly horizontally or even vertically. Benefit of this is being able to read on computer or tablet screens without needing to use a guide.

We also teach logic based theory which explains the real causes and effects of how we read as a society today and how we show you how to transcend that.

I think greatest difference between the Shilin Speed Reading program and the others out there is Dmitriy Shilin himself. He is a very unique and interesting man who is inspired by the work he does. Dmitriy has vast experience and a deep understanding of what works and doesn’t work in terms of reading abilities and the workings of the subconscious mind and your ability to read and process information.

A thousand of his own personal students achieved reading speeds of over 10 000 words per minute. I don’t think anyone else in the world can claim they have done same. In essence if you have goal to read much faster and you are willing to put in the work Dmitriy can help you achieve that goal.

7S: What age groups do you teach?

MS: We start with students from the age of 12 years old. At this age their vocabulary is developed well enough to start the training. However Dmitriy has trained students as young as four years old. These were special highly gifted children.

The best results are achieved by our younger students as they have spent less time reading and reinforcing old habits so are therefore a lot easier to change. However we have had clients over 40 years old increase their reading speed by 1000% in a day.

The benefits of reading faster are valuable to everyone so we have students attending our programs from all age groups.

7S: The Shilin classes are taught on site in Johannesburg and Cape Town. Do you offer online tools as well?

MS: No not yet, but we are in the early stages of developing electronic versions of the program.

7S: On your website you mention that a branch of the program will soon be opening in Ireland, closing the circle back to Dmitry Shilin’s European roots. Do you plan on continuing to expand the program to other countries in the future?

MS: Yes, we have a global vision for the company. Currently Dmitriy Shilin is the only one who knows how to deliver the program but once the work starts spreading again we will begin to train trainers as well offer electronic versions of the program.

Since moving to South Africa the course was not taught for over 17 years. In the Ukraine he went from one class to a 1000 students in a single year. We are confident that as we grow the company and word of mouth increases it will happen again. There are a few logistical problems with regard to running the program in other countries, but we will resolve them.

The last 18 months have been spent building the brand, setting up the company and protecting the intellectual property. Word of mouth is increasing and trust is building towards the company and people are opening up to the work. It may take 100 years but we have a vision that one day the course will be taught in every school and available to every child.

There have been evolutionary quantum leaps in technology, communication and travel in the last few decades, but why are we not doing the same for education? We can send a letter in milliseconds to someone on the other side of the world which once took days, weeks or months to deliver. I believe one-day we will look back in time and wonder why we spent the first 20 years of our lives in an education system that many agree is already obsolete.

My personal goal for the company is to ensure that when the world looks back on how we read today and how we read in the future that Dmitriy Shilin is credited as the one who helped achieve it.

Martin Sam is the Managing Director of the Shilin Speed Reading Institute. He is also a Demartini Method Facilitator who assists others as professional, personal and business development consultant. Connect with him on LinkedIn. http://www.linkedin.com/in/martinssam

Our Top Ten Book Recommendations

October 14, 2013

What books are you reading now? What books will you be reading next? For voracious readers, there’s always an answer to those two questions. But sometimes even the most avid readers run out of ideas, and look for new books they’ve never seen before, or books published in the past they’ve never heard of. If you’re looking for new reading material, we’ve got some suggestions for you today.

For Younger Readers

Children like variety, and beginning readers should be encouraged to look for new books when they’re done with their current ones, to stimulate a love of reading that will benefit them for the rest of their lives.

“One Cool Friend” by Tony Buzzeo
friendship, family, and fun

“H.O.R.S.E” by Christopher Myers
put your imagination to work – and play

“Blackout” by John Rocco
getting back in touch with the natural world

For Teens

Books can be a valuable resource for teenagers as they navigate through the changes in their lives, moving from child to adult.

“Unhooking the Moon” by Gregory Hughes
danger, discovery, and growing up

“Will in Scarlet” by Matthew Cody
an old legend comes alive

“Picture Me Gone” by Meg Rosoff
what makes us different, and what brings us together

“Fangirl” by Rainbow Rowell
first year at university – yikes!

For Adults

To learn something new, to expand your mind, or simply to relax and get away from the daily grind – books are a source of inspiration that never grows old.

“A Constellation of Vital Phenomena” by Anthony Marra
a personal look at war and its effects on people

“NOS4A2″ by Joe Hill
a horror story that will keep you up all night

“The Painted Girls” by Cathy M. Buchanan
a look at what goes on behind the easel

Reading Traditions From Around the World At Viktor Andonov’s www.WorldOfTales.com

October 8, 2013

Long before written language was invented, people told stories to each other to pass on history and tradition, or just for entertainment. Now that we have books, we can keep these stories alive and make them available to anyone who goes to a library or bookstore. Viktor Andonov has taken it one step further and set up his www.WorldOfTales.com website to make sure that children and adults just need an internet connection to be able to access and read these timeless tales, so that the stories from the past can be enjoyed long into the future.

7S: Folktales and stories are an important part of cultures around the world. Do you find that many countries have similar stories, or are they different in different locations?

VA: Folktales are an irreplaceable part of people’s lives for thousands of years. Even though most of the stories are quite diverse, people who share common cultural marks have similar stories. When people set out to explore the world, their folklore mixed with the folklore of the natives they found. That’s why one might find similarities between South American folktales and European folktales. But, there are also similarities that have no common origin – a reminder that we are all different, and yet somehow the same.

7S: You were born and raised in Bulgaria; what are the stories that you remember from your childhood?

VA: I enjoyed reading folktales as a child. They told stories of magic, far away lands, heroic actions, talking animals and beasts. When I think about my favorite stories, three things come to mind. The first is a book with Bulgarian folktales. The second is a very interesting book titled “Bengal folktales”. The third is a fairy tale that made a lasting impression in my mind – Bluebeard by Charles Perrault. Maybe because I was a boy, and that story was a little scary.

7S: How do folk tales and fairy tales help children learn to love reading?

VA: Well, the short answer is imagination. Childhood is the time when our brains make all these tiny connections. Folktales and fairy tales are interesting – they make children wonder, awe, and think about so many things in this very important age for their development. A nurtured love for folktales will be carried over to other books as children get older.

7S: You mention the importance of parents reading aloud to children, and we agree that a parent’s influence has a lot to do with helping a child improve reading skills and enjoy books. How can parents use your website to read with their kids?

VA: Yes, parents should read with their children. One of the ways a child learns is by asking questions. Parents who enjoy reading with their children can teach them all the values folktales present in a safe, natural setting. My website offers a lot of stories ready for reading. You can always read with your child next to the PC/laptop/tablet, etc., print a story you have chosen, or even read together over the phone.

7S: Your site has stories from Japan, France, Italy, Norway, India, and many other countries. If someone would like to share a story from their own childhood with your site, can they do that?

VA: Yes, there is a users folktales section on my website. Everyone can send me their favorite stories.

speedreadingtechniques.org

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