There are still some lingering errors in the annual DBS Radio/Ministry of Education and Courts-sponsored National Reading Competition despite an overall good effort by students.
That’s according to Marketing and Outreach Officer at the University of the West Indies (UWI) Open campus Dominica site, Kimone Joseph, one of the judges in the competition.
She made the remark while addressing the students in the final round of the quarter finals at the Dominica Public Service Union (DPSU) building on valley road, Friday.
“From the judge’s perspective it was a very good competition,” she said. “The children gave a very good effort but there still are some lingering errors and things that need to be improved on.”
Joseph noted that some of the students remain detached from the story and as a result do not reflect its mood.
“The children are still not going into the character for the narrative section as well as we would like,” she stated. “The narrative could have been much more exciting if the children put themselves into the story that they are actually reading.”
Another area that needs improvement is the reading pace of students.
“We have also noticed that there is a rush for some children. They read too quickly and they miss the punctuation marks,” Joseph stated. “So there tend to be run off sentences where you could clearly see that there could have been a full stop. So we need that to improve.”
She also pointed out that the pupils were more comfortable with reading the news item section of the competition than the narrative. “I don’t know why, maybe it is so much more exciting,” she stated.
Annessa Laurent of the Lighthouse Christian Academy came first in the quarter final of the competition followed by Louise Aarons of the Pioneer Preparatory School and Philicia Jack of the St. Joseph SDA.
The other pupils who have moved on to the semi finals are J’quan Lecointe of Massacre Primary School, Jasnique Prosper of Jones Beaupierre Primary, Jodi Christmas of the Castle Bruce Primary and Halli Christmas of the Campbell Primary.
Last year Shanda Francis of the Lighthouse Christian Academy won the competition.
It may be that the teachers who coach these kids need to get some coaching themselves, on proper pronunciations and intonations. I’ve noticed that when some of these children read quotes, there is no change in the voice. Everything remains flat. Hopefully they’ll get better with time.
I hope that the students recognise and appreciate the constructive criticism given and use them to progress further.
Instead of focusing so much on politic for us to comment on. Lets comment on topics like thses constructively to help our futrure generation. Parents need to read more with there kids.
Congratulation to all the school participated…………….
Jasnique prosper i am proud of u ,your favourite aunty
Very good phillicia may GOD continue to bless your effort as you move to higher heights..