Reading Ebooks For People: Good idea?

FatGuy · 11-01-2015, 05:54 PM

Hello everyone, I need advice. This forum was the best one I could think of asking. I really enjoy helping people who are learning English. With this in mind, I thought I could make use of my love of e-books and my love of reading out loud.

I thought I could setup a Skype call with someone who wants to learn English and read out loud pieces of writing on my iPad that I think they'll find interesting while they follow along. Of course I'd just be doing it for free as it's something I enjoy.

Is this a good idea?

Cinisajoy · 11-01-2015, 06:02 PM

I am not sure.
Are you on a college campus that offers free English as a Second Language courses?
If not are you near a college that offers that?
Get in touch with the person that runs it. They can give you some great ideas.
Thank you for doing this.
Personally I need Tex-Mex as a second language.

FatGuy · 11-01-2015, 06:34 PM

I thought by using ebooks and Skype I could help people from foreign countries.

Cinisajoy · 11-01-2015, 06:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FatGuy

I thought by using ebooks and Skype I could help people from foreign countries.

You might can. Like I said ask an ESL professional. Your idea sounds ok but I was wondering what kind of books you would use.

Where are you going to find these people?

Froide · 11-02-2015, 02:59 AM

It's not necessarily a bad idea. In fact, resources on this Sound Learning page indicate that audiobooks can increase literacy, and not just for speakers of ESL/EFL. I can attest to that: while I'm a native English speaker, I recall improving my fluency in foreign languages, and even my appreciation for works written in other forms of English such as Shakespeare's (which might as well have been written in a foreign language), while listening to narrations, audio dramatizations, or songs while reading the accompanying text or lyrics.

On its face, what you are proposing is called "immersion reading" or "immersive reading": the audience listens to a narration while following along via an ebook or paper book copy of the text. Of course, the narration and the written text should track each other word for word, as Kindle-Audible Whispersync for Voice pairings do.

But given the existence of Whispersync and similar products on the marketplace, here's what comes to mind when reading your proposition:

Quote:

Why is a Skype call necessary or even appealing?

Specifically, you'll need to articulate what value-added Skyping with you will offer that your target audience could not achieve on their own by listening to a free or professionally narrated paid audiobook, while reading its ebook or paperbook counterpart. Think through the benefits YOU were thinking your offering would provide, as well as research what value-added features key stakeholders such as ESL/TESOL/EFL professionals (as Cinisajoy suggested), librarians, and members of your target audience think are important. Then, figure out how to deliver with high quality. And finally, decide from there your willingness and ability to deliver.

(To those ends, I also suggest you take a few voice acting lessons, as quality of narration is key success factor in what you're proposing. You'd also improve your skills and credibility by pursuing an ESOL certification. For example, in New York State, you could take the weekend courses "ESL Course 1: Introduction to Teaching ESL" (3 credits, 30 hours, $235) and "ESL Course 2: ESL Performance Skills Development" (also 3 credits, 30 hours, $235), and pay a $100 licensing fee.

Once you work all that through - and if you still want to proceed - then take the necessary steps to build and serve your target audience. I suggest beginning by partnering with organizations that will let you practice in person and gather feedback (by hosting read-alongs while you read aloud), that serve your target audience, and that can refer clients to you (e.g., your local library and local organizations/institutions that offer ESL/TESOL/TOEFL/EFL programs). I don't know what country you live in, but in the USA, organizations such as SCORE.org and SBA.gov can help you work through the necessary planning, marketing, and implementation tasks, free of charge.

Good luck!

harriska2 · 11-02-2015, 01:01 PM

Direct Instruction Spoken English. Try that out. I would probably work wonderfully over Skype.

FatGuy · 11-03-2015, 05:58 AM

Thanks so much for the replies. I really appreciate it!

Can someone recommend a specific website or something where people are looking for 'readers'?

HarryT · 11-03-2015, 07:24 AM

If you're a good reader, you might like to volunteer to read for Librivox.

Cinisajoy · 11-03-2015, 10:45 AM

If you really want to do this, go talk to the ESL professionals. They won't bite and are usually grateful for the help.
Sorry but an internet forum is not the best place to look for places to find people.

Little story, I was asked years ago how I got to be so smart. The honest answer was I find people that are smarter than me to answer your question.
So if a random person on the internet tells you to talk to a certain type of person it is so you can get the best advice.

FatGuy · 11-04-2015, 12:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

If you're a good reader, you might like to volunteer to read for Librivox.

Wow, that looks great, but I'm just looking for a site where I can read ebooks to people learning English. That site looks too advanced for me, haha.

Thanks.

Cinisajoy · 11-04-2015, 12:25 PM

Kiddo,
Go talk to the experts. They know more than we do. And would more than likely be grateful for the help.
Also teaching someone English is not as simple as just reading to them.
Now I do have another idea too. Look for your local literacy program.

owly · 11-06-2015, 07:04 AM

How about trying a service like Verbal planet? http://www.verbalplanet.com/ Infor for teachers http://www.verbalplanet.com/faq.asp?tab=1#TabbedPanels1

FatGuy · 11-13-2015, 05:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by owly

How about trying a service like Verbal planet? http://www.verbalplanet.com/ Infor for teachers http://www.verbalplanet.com/faq.asp?tab=1#TabbedPanels1

I'm looking at this now and it seems like this site is wanting to pay English teachers?

I just want to help people for free

pdurrant · 11-13-2015, 08:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FatGuy

I'm looking at this now and it seems like this site is wanting to pay English teachers?

I just want to help people for free

It is admirable that you want to use some of your time to help people learn English. But rather than just going with your first idea on how you could do this with the equipment to hand, perhaps you should ask the advice of people who do this full time, and see how your time could be used towards your chosen goal most effectively.

Cinisajoy · 11-13-2015, 09:57 AM

If you want to do the most good for free, check with your local ESL and literacy programs. Both are wonderful programs and can use the help.

11-01-2015, 05:54 PM	#1
FatGuy Groupie Posts: 158 Karma: 1804362 Join Date: Nov 2014 Device: iPad Mini 3	Reading Ebooks For People: Good idea? Hello everyone, I need advice. This forum was the best one I could think of asking. I really enjoy helping people who are learning English. With this in mind, I thought I could make use of my love of e-books and my love of reading out loud. I thought I could setup a Skype call with someone who wants to learn English and read out loud pieces of writing on my iPad that I think they'll find interesting while they follow along. Of course I'd just be doing it for free as it's something I enjoy. Is this a good idea?

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
What's some good software for reading ebooks on Windows 9*/ME?	Glorfindel	Windows Devices	21	05-16-2014 09:09 AM
Surveys say more people are reading books and novels than in the good old days	Barty	News	13	04-09-2012 12:18 AM
A good idea ?	carpetmojo	General Discussions	16	02-09-2012 06:22 AM
Advertisements in Ebooks-Good Idea?	xg4bx	News	212	11-07-2011 10:26 AM
eBooks are a novel idea - but I wouldn't try reading one in the bath	columbus	News	29	09-27-2009 12:57 PM

11-01-2015, 06:02 PM	#2
Cinisajoy Just a Yellow Smiley. Posts: 19,161 Karma: 83862859 Join Date: Jul 2015 Location: Texas Device: K4, K5, fire, kobo, galaxy	I am not sure. Are you on a college campus that offers free English as a Second Language courses? If not are you near a college that offers that? Get in touch with the person that runs it. They can give you some great ideas. Thank you for doing this. Personally I need Tex-Mex as a second language.

11-01-2015, 06:34 PM	#3
FatGuy Groupie Posts: 158 Karma: 1804362 Join Date: Nov 2014 Device: iPad Mini 3	I thought by using ebooks and Skype I could help people from foreign countries.

11-02-2015, 01:01 PM	#6
harriska2 Addict Posts: 272 Karma: 8000000 Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Corvallis, OR Device: Kindle PW2, iPad Pro	Direct Instruction Spoken English. Try that out. I would probably work wonderfully over Skype.

11-03-2015, 05:58 AM	#7
FatGuy Groupie Posts: 158 Karma: 1804362 Join Date: Nov 2014 Device: iPad Mini 3	Thanks so much for the replies. I really appreciate it! Can someone recommend a specific website or something where people are looking for 'readers'?

11-03-2015, 07:24 AM	#8
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383099 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	If you're a good reader, you might like to volunteer to read for Librivox.

11-03-2015, 10:45 AM	#9
Cinisajoy Just a Yellow Smiley. Posts: 19,161 Karma: 83862859 Join Date: Jul 2015 Location: Texas Device: K4, K5, fire, kobo, galaxy	If you really want to do this, go talk to the ESL professionals. They won't bite and are usually grateful for the help. Sorry but an internet forum is not the best place to look for places to find people. Little story, I was asked years ago how I got to be so smart. The honest answer was I find people that are smarter than me to answer your question. So if a random person on the internet tells you to talk to a certain type of person it is so you can get the best advice.

11-04-2015, 12:25 PM	#11
Cinisajoy Just a Yellow Smiley. Posts: 19,161 Karma: 83862859 Join Date: Jul 2015 Location: Texas Device: K4, K5, fire, kobo, galaxy	Kiddo, Go talk to the experts. They know more than we do. And would more than likely be grateful for the help. Also teaching someone English is not as simple as just reading to them. Now I do have another idea too. Look for your local literacy program.

11-06-2015, 07:04 AM	#12
owly Guru Posts: 729 Karma: 3822612 Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Sweden Device: Paperwhite 2, Kobo Aura H2O	How about trying a service like Verbal planet? http://www.verbalplanet.com/ Infor for teachers http://www.verbalplanet.com/faq.asp?tab=1#TabbedPanels1

11-13-2015, 09:57 AM	#15
Cinisajoy Just a Yellow Smiley. Posts: 19,161 Karma: 83862859 Join Date: Jul 2015 Location: Texas Device: K4, K5, fire, kobo, galaxy	If you want to do the most good for free, check with your local ESL and literacy programs. Both are wonderful programs and can use the help.

Advert

Advert