EIC PRODUCT CENTER

Reading for pleasure can develop imagination and language skills better than
watching TV. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

By Timothy Williams

Education experts have always extolled the virtues of reading, particularly for
children. By fostering a love of reading in a person at a young age, lifelong
benefits arise as a consequence of this. Language skills and the imaginative
capacity to have new ideas are particular positives associated with reading.
There is little doubt that television is inferior to reading in almost every
intellectual respect. While there is no doubt that some aspects of television can
be challenging and require a level of engagement that is higher than some books
(e.g. documentaries and educational films), reading is still considered to be the
best way for individuals to engage with subject matter. Nowadays, with the
omnipresence of television, the internet and social media, it is more vital than
ever for young people to be encouraged to engage more with reading material.
On the other hand, some would argue that people acquire knowledge in
different ways, and that some people are more responsive to audio stimuli than
they are to the written word. The information in books may be imbibed very
quickly by some people, yet others may not be so receptive and could benefit
more from receiving the information via a television screen.
In conclusion, while reading is surely a necessary skill for fostering language
ability and developing students’ imaginative capacity, it is important to
remember that different people learn in different ways. There is no doubt that
everyone should be able to read, but that doesn’t necessarily mean reading is the
best way for everyone to absorb new information.