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研究者と図書館

Aaron Campbell

　本学には、「誰かの役に立つ」ための多 読 活 動 が あ る こ と を 知 っ て い ま す か。Readers4Readersという10週間多読マラソンプロジェクトは、カンボジアに図書館を作って恵まれない子供達に本を届けることを目指す募金活動です。私たちが本を読むことで救われる人がいます。英語力を高めるためだけでなく、困っている誰かのために多読をしてみませんか。　It is no secret that the more you read, the more your English will improve and your knowledge of the world will grow. But how can we stay motivated to read more books when we are so busy with other things? Perhaps the answer lies not in achieving high word counts for grades and awards for ourselves, but rather in helping others. For this reason, Readers4Readers was started on campus in the fall of 2016.　Readers4Readers is 10-week reading marathon consisting entirely of volunteer readers from Kyoto University of Foreign Studies. During the event, participating students pledge to read as many books as they can. At the same time, teachers are busy raising money through donations by individuals, businesses, and publishing companies. 　If readers can reach a collective word count goal by the end of the 10 weeks, then the money raised by teachers is released to a recipient community in Cambodia ‒ through an NPO called RSVP Cambodia - for the purpose of building libraries in rural communities that donʼt currently have them. In doing so, children and adults, who are not as fortunate as students at KUFS, will fi nally have the opportunity to read. 　For the 2016 event, about 100 students volunteered to participate. The collective word count goal was determined by an examination of studentsʼ reading activity on M-Reader from the recent past. The final goal represents a significant increase above what students would normally read at the same historical rate. In this way, if students reach the collective goal, they will have read above and beyond what they normally would have otherwise, based on their history. Furthermore, they will be on track toward

r e a ch i ng a p e r s ona l w o r d c o u n t g o a l o f 300,000 words, which is the minimum at which students start to receive the benefits of extensive reading. 　Throughout the event, readers are sent weekly email updates, informing them of their progress and calling out some of the top 10 weekly and overall readers. In addition, large goal thermometers are posted in high-traffi c areas around campus, showing the studentsʼ progress. This same information is also posted online(http://swapnetwork.org), which allows people from outside the KUFS community to follow the readersʼ progress. This is especially important for those who have donated, for they understand that their donation goes toward not only helping the Cambodian community in need, but also to help KUFS students improve their English through reading. The website also provides a convenient means for supporters around the world to make their financial contributions online. 　Ultimately, Readers4Readers provides a win-win situation for everyone involved: the KUFS students, the teachers, the university, the donors, and most importantly, the people of Cambodia. We all benefi t together when we fulfi ll our roles. If that doesnʼt motivate you to read, what else will? 　As the famous American actor Will Smith once said, “If you're not making someone else's life better, then you're wasting your time. Your life will become better by making other lives better.”

アーロン・キャンベル（専任講師・CALL & 多読）

Readers4Readers - a sponsored reading challengeExtensive Reading: Change Yourself! 4