Correcting readers

[Rich Koster]

During Bible studies I often ask for volunteers to read aloud to encourage participation. Unfortunately, sometimes the reading is poor and it would distort the meaning to someone who is just listening and not reading along. I usually correct the wrong word immediately (just by saying "apostle" if they said "a pistol") and just let them read on from that point. What would or do you do? Has anyone ever asked someone to stop volunteering (in private, of course) because they always botch the reading?

 

[Jon 316]

During Bible studies I often ask for volunteers to read aloud to encourage participation. Unfortunately, sometimes the reading is poor and it would distort the meaning to someone who is just listening and not reading along. I usually correct the wrong word immediately (just by saying "apostle" if they said "a pistol") and just let them read on from that point. What would or do you do? Has anyone ever asked someone to stop volunteering (in private, of course) because they always botch the reading?

O Rich Koster; I will exalt you and praise your name,
for in faithful perfectness you have done marvelous things. Jon 305

Glad I dont go to your biblestudy!

 

[Rich Koster]

During Bible studies I often ask for volunteers to read aloud to encourage participation. Unfortunately, sometimes the reading is poor and it would distort the meaning to someone who is just listening and not reading along. I usually correct the wrong word immediately (just by saying "apostle" if they said "a pistol") and just let them read on from that point. What would or do you do? Has anyone ever asked someone to stop volunteering (in private, of course) because they always botch the reading?

O Rich Koster; I will exalt you and praise your name,
for in faithful perfectness you have done marvelous things. Jon 305

Glad I dont go to your biblestudy!

I believe in extending grace, but have you ever looked at the body language of people in a group that just screams "oh no, here we go again"?

 

[Jon 316]

During Bible studies I often ask for volunteers to read aloud to encourage participation. Unfortunately, sometimes the reading is poor and it would distort the meaning to someone who is just listening and not reading along. I usually correct the wrong word immediately (just by saying "apostle" if they said "a pistol") and just let them read on from that point. What would or do you do? Has anyone ever asked someone to stop volunteering (in private, of course) because they always botch the reading?

O Rich Koster; I will exalt you and praise your name,
for in faithful perfectness you have done marvelous things. Jon 305

Glad I dont go to your biblestudy!

I believe in extending grace, but have you ever looked at the body language of people in a group that just screams "oh no, here we go again"?

I hear you... funny thing is I have a bad habit of pronouncing the 'T's' In epistle and apostle! I think it goes back to how I read the bible when I 1st got saved I said it as I read it!

Botch reading is hard work for all...

 

[Skyler]

Point one, how are they going to get better if they don't practice?

Point two, how are they going to get better if you don't tell them where they mess up?

Point three, are they *trying* to get better?

Point four, I'm really glad I'm not in your shoes. Sorry, but I am.

 

[APuritansMind]

Rich, I discreetly ask a few people, prior to the Bible study, if they would like to read a passage when called upon. Sometimes asking for volunteers during the study results in periods of waiting for someone to begin, two people begining to read at the same time, or the situation you describe. If someone slips up when reading I just let them continue on. The people in our group know what the person should have read and realize that we are, of course, only human and apt to make a mistake now and then.

 

[Rich Koster]

O Rich Koster; I will exalt you and praise your name,
for in faithful perfectness you have done marvelous things. Jon 305

Glad I dont go to your biblestudy!

I believe in extending grace, but have you ever looked at the body language of people in a group that just screams "oh no, here we go again"?

I hear you... funny thing is I have a bad habit of pronouncing the 'T's' In epistle and apostle! I think it goes back to how I read the bible when I 1st got saved I said it as I read it!

Botch reading is hard work for all...

I just used that as a quick example. Some people drop entire syllables from words, or substitute different words which would look close to what is on the page if comparing them. My struggle is that it changes the entire drift of the text if left uncorrected. Everyone messes up occasionally, but I'm dealing with something that is a constant.

-----Added 5/2/2009 at 07:59:37 EST-----

Rich, I discreetly ask a few people, prior to the Bible study, if they would like to read a passage when called upon. Sometimes asking for volunteers during the study results in periods of waiting for someone to begin, two people begining to read at the same time, or the situation you describe. If someone slips up when reading I just let them continue on. The people in our group know what the person should have read and realize that we are, of course, only human and apt to make a mistake now and then.

I like the pre-selection idea. I'll deal with the "how come you never ask me" problem when it comes up.

-----Added 5/2/2009 at 08:11:41 EST-----

Point one, how are they going to get better if they don't practice?

Point two, how are they going to get better if you don't tell them where they mess up?

Point three, are they *trying* to get better?

Point four, I'm really glad I'm not in your shoes. Sorry, but I am.

I'm not sure what is going on. It seems like they are trying to read aloud faster than they can process it, but there is no stuttering or pausing. Also, they are not understanding what is going on quite often. It may be a spiritual battle which I have to deal with accordingly.

 

[APuritansMind]

Rich, do your people know what passage you'll be teaching on in advance? Maybe they could read through the passage a few times or study a little in preparation for the Bible study.

 

[Skyler]

Point one, how are they going to get better if they don't practice?

Point two, how are they going to get better if you don't tell them where they mess up?

Point three, are they *trying* to get better?

Point four, I'm really glad I'm not in your shoes. Sorry, but I am.

I'm not sure what is going on. It seems like they are trying to read aloud faster than they can process it, but there is no stuttering or pausing. Also, they are not understanding what is going on quite often. It may be a spiritual battle which I have to deal with accordingly.

I was reading about a tribe of South American Indians who were having the same problem. The solution they came up with was that as the individual was reading, another one would ask him/her a question about the text he/she just read. This would encourage the reader to actually think about what he was reading. I don't know how well this would necessarily work in your case, but it may be worth a shot.

 

[Rich Koster]

Rich, do your people know what passage you'll be teaching on in advance? Maybe they could read through the passage a few times or study a little in preparation for the Bible study.

Yes. Since I started last September it has been verse by verse, we know what to expect. We are probably finishing Hebrews this week, and I will announce 1 Peter is next. Also, I don't make an issue about mispronouncing obscure names, just words that totally change the drift of what is being said in the text.

 

[Iconoclast]

Another way to handle this might be to allow them to finish the reading and soon after try to repeat part of the reading in your explanation and use the correct pronunciation of the mis-read word

 

[Skyler]

Another way to handle this might be to allow them to finish the reading and soon after try to repeat part of the reading in your explanation and use the correct pronunciation of the mis-read word

This may work if the person is really trying; if not, though, I don't think it will help.

 

[Rich Koster]

Another way to handle this might be to allow them to finish the reading and soon after try to repeat part of the reading in your explanation and use the correct pronunciation of the mis-read word

This may work if the person is really trying; if not, though, I don't think it will help.

Several options seem good. I want what is best for the class and the reader at the same time.

SIDEBAR- I enjoy your quote

 

[APuritansMind]

Rich, I'll be praying for you and your people.

 

[Rich Koster]

Rich, I'll be praying for you and your people.

Thanks for the encouragement and advice.