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INTRODUCING BOOKTOK!

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A bookworm –  (noun):

A person who loves reading and studying

Dear readers if there’s one thing I know, it’s that you’re reading this right now. (Also I can see you through your screen). Now, you might be an amazing student or just starting out on your English adventure, but everyone knows the best way to learn any new language and keep it in your brain forever is to read!

Okay so first things first, I should introduce you to one of our senior (best) teachers here at EC, Jessica Angel. (Yes, that is her real name and she sound like a detective from space, and yes I’m incredibly jealous of that fact)

Jess has been teaching here for almost five years and she also happens to share my love of books! I was lucky enough to sit down with Jess and ask her about an exciting new reading group she’s starting here at EC Manchester called ‘EC BOOKTOK’ (Yes, that sounds like TikTok, but it’s much better because it’s more about books and less about teenagers dancing in ways that make their parents sad)

Okay, so Jess, can you tell me what EC Booktok is and why you chose to start it at EC Manchester?

EC Booktok is a new reading group designed to encourage an interest in social media book communities and act as a springboard for more reading and vocabulary building in English. We will look at book recommendations online and discuss student’s preferences. These recommendations are not necessarily an appropriate level for all learners, so EC Booktok will recommend reads from our collection of Graded Readers and Young Adult books and read them together, which will also help improve student’s pronunciation.

What is the first book you ever read and what do you remember about it?

(Jess nods as if saying ‘Wow what a great question’)

The first book I remember reading in Primary School is The Tiger Who Came To Tea by Judith Kerr. It was such a magical story about friendship, I read it over and over again.

I don’t trust that tiger

And what book would you suggest to new readers of English?

The books I most often recommend to students are the Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling. Many students are familiar with these stories and have seen the films, if not, then watching the film is a good place to start. The students then already have an idea of the story, this makes reading easier. This works equally well for any young learner books turned into films, The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins or The Maze Runner Trilogy by James Dashner are other popular examples of these.

The Hunger Games (novel) - Wikipedia
I’m starving (for books

What book do you keep coming back to?

The book I keep coming back to is Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert. I’ve read it four times so far. It is an inspiring, comforting and, at times, hilarious account of the writer’s life. It is extremely relatable and also focuses mostly on travel and food, my two favourite things!

Eat. Pray. Love. Repeat

What will students love about the wonderful world of EC Booktok?

EC Booktok is a chance to meet new students and learn new stories, which will widen student’s knowledge of British/English speaking world culture. It will also improve student’s reading and pronunciation skills. We are starting EC Booktok in the middle of February 2023 at lunchtimes, so there will also be snacks available!

And with that she’s gone!

Now you can’t get a better deal than that. Personally, Jess had me at ‘snacks available’. I try to ask more about exactly what types of snacks these would be, but Jess is already out of the room! Teachers always have places to go and students to teach here at EC Manchester.

That reminds me, I think I might have a class to run away to. Until next time, keep reading and maybe change your name to something cooler.

Make sure you check out EC BOOKTOK starting at lunch time at 1:15 February 16th, only at EC Manchester!

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