明報「童悅讀」2012年2月14日外子近日在網上書店買到一套中國自家製作的英語閱讀故事書系列。原本我對中國製品的質量不帶有厚望，怎料一看之下，令我驚歎不已，內容、畫功、表達手法，都可媲美外國的繪本。中國政府已意識到每天的親子聆聽與閱讀才能促進孩子的英語能力。香港若要維持作為國際大都會的競爭力，在英語能力的培養上真的要加把勁了。
「攀登英語系列」來頭可不少。它是國內第一套為5-12歲兒童英語閱讀能力發展而研發的英語分級閱讀圖畫書，是北京師範大學「認知神經科學與學習」國家重點實驗室十餘年的探索成果，並經過在多個省不同類型的學校測試檢驗。
此系列並不是課堂上的教科書，而是一套推廣親子閱讀的課外讀物。研究組在實驗班學生的測查中確認有趣的圖書能夠激發兒童對英語的興趣。興趣愈高，學習態度愈積極，對英語學習的焦慮程度愈低，英語閱讀能力就愈強。「攀登」的誕生，就是為協助家長成為孩子的閱讀伙伴和引導者，好使家長能培養孩子良好的英語閱讀習慣，並建立對英語學習的自信心。
「攀登」系列有兩處我很欣賞的地方。第一，除了有六級的分級閱讀圖書後，還有兩套拼讀技能(Phonics)訓練專輯 — 《有趣的字母》和《神奇字母組合》，共52冊圖畫書。拼讀技能掌握得好，就能大大提高孩子英語閱讀的效率和流暢度，閱讀就變得更有樂趣。
第二，這是一套配套十足的親子閱讀系列書，讓家長垂手可得進行親子閱讀時所需的資源。每一級分級閱讀除了有10-12冊圖畫書外，還有CD一隻，和孩子的閱讀記錄冊。最重要是指導詳盡的家長手冊。除了清晰的故事內容介紹外，佔了手冊大半部份的是給家長的親子閱讀方法和建議，還列舉了多種家庭閱讀活動作參考。很有趣的是手冊中還有一整頁教導父母如何有效地評價孩子的閱讀效果。在第一級中它說：「如果評價只關注孩子的學習結果，如學到了哪些單詞、句式和語法點等，就不能全面了解孩子的閱讀過程，甚至阻礙孩子的閱讀興趣和自信的發展。」很精警的提醒呀！它建議的過程性評價分為三方面：（一）孩子有沒有體會到英語閱讀的樂趣 — 孩子是否喜歡看圖畫書，並堅持每天閱讀？（二）孩子是否能初步掌握朗讀方法的技巧 — 孩子能否跟著錄音或自己大聲朗讀？（三）孩子是否已經初步掌握一些閱讀策略 — 孩子能否借助圖畫猜測單詞的意思？能否把圖畫書中學到的英文知識應用到日常生活中？
能如此著力、用心地教導父母如何一步一步跟孩子共讀英語圖書，實令我敬佩不已。相比之下，香港政府做的實在太不起勁了。每年公共圖書館大力推動的閱讀計劃都是以孩子的閱書量為評價準則，在家長教育方面的工作則寥寥可數。教育局亦沒有積極提供資源或協助給學校推行家長親子英語閱讀的活動。爸媽們，到目前為止，看來我們都是先要靠自己！就來一個「龍年攀登英語計劃」吧！Book Info:
書名：攀登英語閱讀系列
編著：北京師範大學「認知神經科學與學習」國家重點實驗室攀登英語項目組
出版：接力出版社
I really appreciate your effort & sharing on the kids reading. You did give us a lot of suggestion & information.
回覆刪除Thanks. And I would continue to share what I know and what I have experienced.
回覆刪除Thanks again!!
刪除By the way, I would like to have some more idea from you.
My son is 2 years & 8 months old now. Is it possible to recommend me what story books are good for him ? We didn't provide him enough "English environment" in the past & so I want to do "some more action" from now on.
Your suggestion & sharing to me is highly appreciated. Many thanks !!!!!
Great! In fact, I've introduced quite a number of good English books in my blog and you can read through the articles. Since your son is so young, remember not to choose books that are too long. The pictures should be large and your son should be able to understand the stories with the help of picture clues. The Oxford Reading Tree series is my favourite. Go for the Stage 1-3 books, step by step. Eric Carl's books (e.g. The Hungry Caterpillar) are also attractive to young readers because of the big pictures and fantastic use of colour. There's another series which you can get from Amazon.cn: 體驗英語系列. Pick the pre-stage ones. The Magic Box series (Can get it at 青田), is also a good choice. Each pack comes with a VCD, CD, Activity book, word cards. If you don't mind letting your boy look at the computer for a while each day, you can try the BBC Muzzy (also sold at 青田). Let your son watch English DVDs like Maisy the Mouse, Clifford the Big Red Dog occasionally so as to expose him to continuous prose of English. Songs are also excellent great as he can sing along. Yes, it's a test of your patience but you can do it because reading with your son together is the best way to tell him that you love him.
回覆刪除I'm so excited to receive your sharing & it really give me lots of information & suggestion. Thank you VERY much. I will follow your advice & share it with my son for sure.
刪除Actually, what I got is not only your information but also your "mental support".
By the way, I have bought some books (learnt from your blog) already & read with my son every night. In the meantime, at least I know he enjoys reading. Again, many thanks!!
Really sorry to bother you again. I just visited Amazon.cn to find 體驗英語系列 but failed to locate it. Please also let me know the publisher's name & then I can try it again.
刪除thanks!!!!!
I've just bought a few sets from amazon. Here's an example of the link to 体验英语少儿阅读文库•第2级SET C
回覆刪除http://www.amazon.cn/gp/product/B0056L2XMG/ref=s9_simh_gw_p14_d3_g14_i1?pf_rd_m=A1AJ19PSB66TGU&pf_rd_s=center-2&pf_rd_r=1K7TKM8YA8CE5JCRQGAF&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=58223152&pf_rd_i=899254051
In fact, I'm going to introduce this series in a future issue. You can go to www.cflo.com.cn for info about the series.
Thank you very much !!!!
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