St.

Petersburg

International

Cultural

Forum

Dec.

2016

Prof. Dr. Christine Garbe

THE PRESENTER: DR. CHRISTINE GARBE

Professor of German Literature and Literature

Education, University of Cologne

Focus: Reading and Media Socialization of

Young People

Coordinator of European Literacy Projects like:

2006 – 2009: ADORE – Teaching Adolescent

Struggling Readers. A Comparative Study of

Good Practice in 11 European Countries

2011 – 2012: BACULIT – Basic Curriculum for

Teachers´ Professional Development in Content

Area Literacy (7 EU countries)

2014 – 2016: ELINET – European Literacy Policy

Network, 78 partners from 28 countries

Member of the Literacy Research Panel of the

International Literacy Association, USA

Initiator of “Boys & Books” – an internet

platform for reading promotion of boys

(www.boysandbooks.de )

CONTENTS

Introduction: The Importance of Reading

Culture of Reading and Ecology of Consciousness

in Europe

European Literacy Policy Network (ELINET)

European Declaration of the Right to Literacy

Why reading books…?

„Because we want to live more than one life!“

Books ≠ films, videogames

THE IMPORTANCE OF READING:

“BOOKS GIVE US WINGS“

• Creating our own personal

version of the written story

• Actively co-constructing the

story in closing its “gaps” by

our imagination

• Using personal feelings,

ideas, images, experiences

• Watching a performance = a

representation created by

someone else

• Seeing the story and its

protagonists from “outside”, i.e.

through somebody else’s eyes

• Receiving messages, pictures etc.

without participating in their

production

THE IMPORTANCE OF READING:

“BOOKS GIVE US WINGS”

Wolfgang Iser

A text is a virtual product that comes into being by the

interaction of the written word and the reader’s fantasy.

Astrid Lindgren

Take ten people, living today, whom you estimate and of whom

you think that they really have done something important for

mankind, go back to their childhood, and I am convinced that you

will find ten little bookworms. Because all, that is created, must

first take shape in the imagination of an individual. How else

should it come into being?

WHY DO WE NEED TO SUSTAIN A VITAL READING

CULTURE AS ECOLOGY OF OUR CONSCIOUSNESS

„The future of books and literature will

depend on the use which future generations

of media kids will make of them.“

(Eggert & Garbe, Literarische Sozialisation, 1995)

Many agents are required to ensure the future development of a

reading culture in offering a literate environment to the next

generations:

• Authors

• Publishers

• Families, communities

• Schools, universities

• Libraries

• Policy Makers, the society as a whole

…

KEY TO READING AND BOOK CULTURE,

HOWEVER: LITERACY FOR ALL!

“Literacy is fundamental for human develop-

ment. It enables people to live full and meaningful

lives, and to contribute towards the enrichment

of the communities in which we live.

By literacy we mean the ability to read and write

at a level whereby individuals can effectively

understand and use written communication in all

media (print or electronic), including digital

literacy. “ (ELINET)

THE EUROPEAN LITERACY CHALLENGE

In Europe one in five 15-year-olds and nearly 55 million

adults lack basic literacy skills. Not only does this make it

difficult for them to find a job, it also increases their risk of

poverty and social exclusion, limiting opportunities for

cultural and civil participation, lifelong learning and personal

growth.

2011 – 2012 The European Commission appointed the “European High

Level Group of Experts on Literacy” to develop an Action Plan:

Creating a more literate environment

Improving the quality of teaching

Increasing participation, inclusion and equity

THE EUROPEAN LITERACY POLICY

NETWORK (ELINET)

Key Facts about ELINET:

established in February 2014

78 partner organisations from 28 European

countries

8 teams of experts

engaged in literacy policy-making and

reading promotion in Europe

Involved: Education ministries and national

agencies, literacy networks and national

associations, international organisations,

foundations and NGOs, universities, research

centres and teacher training institutions, volunteer

organisations

► One common European Literacy Communication Platform

(www.eli-net.eu)

► National Literacy Reports for 30 European countries covering literacy

performance and good practices across all age-groups and literacy policy

areas

► One European Framework of Good Practice in Literacy Policies

(EFGP) covering all age groups and policy areas

► A selection of 110 Best Practice Examples for literacy promotion and

education from all over Europe based on the EFGP

► Fundraising tools, awareness raising tools, and indicators of

success

WHAT ELINET ACHIEVED DURING THE

FUNDING PERIOD:

ELINET WEBSITE

WWW.ELI-NET.EU

EUROPEAN DECLARATION OF THE RIGHT TO

LITERACY

Everyone in Europe has the right to acquire

literacy.

The Declaration of European Citizens' Right to Literacy can be found

in RUSSIAN and 20 other languages on the ELINET Website, see

also:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0QrrJyjG8uA

Amsterdam, January 2016

11 CONDITIONS ARE REQUIRED TO PUT THIS

BASIC LITERACY RIGHT INTO PRACTICE

No. 11: “Policymakers, professionals, parents and communities work together to ensure equal access to literacy by closing the gaps in social and educational levels.”

Let´s make an effort to realize this basic right to literacy for all!

Prof. Dr. Christine Garbe University of Cologne, Richard-

Strauss-Str. 2, 50931 Köln,

Germany

Email: christine.garbe@uni-

koeln.de