[Editor's Note]
Today, reading paper books has become a bit "outdated", and the updates of information dissemination are dazzling. Is it meaningful to read literary classics? How to choose the right classic reading material for your child? This is a problem faced by many children and parents.
Hou Hui, professor of the School of Literature of Capital Normal University, teaches and research fields in classical literature. He has been interested in two fields for many years. First, the research on ancient novels, and has published academic monographs "New evidence of the origin of Water Margin", "Golden Bottle Plum", "Dream of Material Desire", "Golden Melon Confucianism" and "Exploring the Origin of the West" (Collection of Essays). Another field is the popularization and dissemination of literary classics. In the 1990s, the "Five Thousand Years of Literature" series was published for young readers, and later renamed it to the "Literature Classics Telling to Children" series, which was reprinted many times. In 2017, the series was republished by Sanlian Bookstore and divided into two parts: "Chinese Literature Classics Telling to Children" (4 volumes) and "World Literature Classics Telling to Children" (3 volumes).
Recently, Hou Hui was a guest on the Question Channel of The Paper (www.thepaper.cn) to answer netizens’ questions about reading literary classics for children and answer some questions encountered by parents and teachers in the process of educating their children and in adult self-education. The following is a collection of questions and answers.
How to cultivate children's reading, writing and expression skills?
Internal power master: Hello . I am already a college student, but I often reflect on the primary and secondary education I received. I learned Tolstoy in textbooks, Maupassant, and Shakespeare, but I couldn't understand it at the time and I was even very resistant. It wasn't until I started reading again in college that I knew how good it was. But at this time, I began to regret that my reading volume was too small... What are the problems with Chinese language education in primary and secondary schools? What should be the correct Chinese language education in primary and secondary schools?
Houhui: I think it’s not too late to start studying. If you study literature in college, it is a good time to read a lot. Primary and secondary schools have tight homework and no time; I am afraid there will be less time to work in the future. Now is the time. As for the issue of Chinese language education in primary and secondary schools, it cannot be explained clearly in one or two sentences. In general, I advocate reading more ancient poems and essays. Our Chinese language education spends too much time on vernacular Chinese. Is it necessary?
quan: Children are in the fourth grade, how can we cultivate children's comprehension through reading? I always feel that my child has limited ability to analyze articles.
Hou Hui: I have some views on the current Chinese language education, and I always let students analyze and understand. How helpful can the child improve his or her improvement if he or she wants his or her child to say that he or she can say that he or she can do? I'm skeptical. Moreover, a good work is often diverse in its content and has no standard answers. If it is forced to be consistent, it will be even worse. Chinese language learning focuses on influencing, develop reading habits from an early age, read more and memorize more, and benefit greatly in the future.
Shi Chengyu: Hello, teacher ! How to cultivate children’s interest in reading?
"Gu Wen Guan Zhi Translation Notes"
Hou Hui: Your problem is a bit big. However, as a parent, there are two responsibilities: one is to create an environment. If there are not many decent books at home, it will be difficult to cultivate children's interests. Second, parents should play an example. Parents who love reading, most of their children also love reading. In the past, we always talked about the family of scholars. Now every family can become a family of scholars, and it all depends on how parents do it.
Summer day of dying: Hello, Teacher Hou, my younger brother is eight years old this year. I hope to cultivate his ancient Chinese level from an early age. Do you think it is appropriate to memorize " Thousand Character Text " at his age?
Hou Hui: Eight-year-old children should go to the second and third grades of elementary school. There are basically no obstacles in writing. They can read "Thousand Character Classics" and " Three Character Classics ". In ancient times, these two reading materials had the function of literacy and understanding simple cultural knowledge at the age of four, and had already started to recite them. A good teacher can explain the content, while an irresponsible teacher just lets the child memorize it by rote. Today's conditions are much better than in the past, with various versions and very detailed comments. It is very beneficial for children to read.In fact, "Three Character Classic" is more suitable for children to read for the first time than "Thousand Character Classic".
Lame orange cat: May I ask, the key to primary school students’ reading classics is to learn sentence reading, establish the three views, cultivate the writing style, or develop the reading habit? Or is it something else?
Hou Hui: It seems that you have had a deeper thought on classic reading. I am foolish in my opinion that primary school students should read more and more intensively. There are good selections from ancient and modern times, such as "Gu Wen Guan Zhi" and the People's Education Press version of "Selected Ancient Prose" (recorded by old gentlemen such as Zhang Zhongxing, Sui Shusen, etc.), which is best to recite some. Read more, and you will have a sense of language. And the so-called reading of clear sentences, establishing three views, and inspiring writing styles are all included. When I was a former professor of science, I was the editor-in-chief of textbooks in a certain middle school. He told me that some textbook writers have too long-winded writing because they read too little ancient Chinese. I deeply agree that only by reading more ancient Chinese can you write concise and logically in vernacular Chinese. This is also my usual opinion.
Alice: Hello teacher, my child is entering the second grade today and likes to read. Last year, he studied the youth version of " Journey to the West ", "Romance of the Three Kingdoms", " Dream of the Red Chamber ", etc. He likes to buy books and read them home. The reward for her is to buy books and read them for her. However, she has limited literacy, but she reads very quickly. When I intentionally asked her to read out loud, she read slowly. I felt that she would read down the line if she didn't know, and she could also say it. I wonder if this is OK?
Hou Hui: literacy should have this process, right? If you don’t know anything, just skip it over and make sure you understand the meaning. If you have to look up the dictionary every time you encounter a new word, you may be interested in reading. However, children should be guided to read quickly (this is also a need for further learning. I heard that the Chinese test sheet for college entrance examinations in the future will reach ten thousand words), but they should also learn to read carefully, find good articles, read word by word, and read repeatedly, and you will gain your own gain.
"Chinese Literature Classics Telled to Children"
Raindrops: Teacher Hou, you mentioned that Chinese learning focuses on influencing, reading more and memorizing more. My baby girl is over 4 years old. In addition to accompanying her to read picture books, I mainly asked her to recite Tang poetry, and mainly focused on content and image and narrative Tang poetry. Do you think this is in line with the characteristics of her age? In addition, what else do you think are suitable for her to recite at her age?
Hou Hui: It is quite good for girls to read poetry. Do you mean the narrative Tang poems you are talking about referring to "Pipa Xing" or something? In fact, you can memorize more short poems, from quatrain to regulated poems , and then transition to long poems. Some experts believe that memory has reached its peak at the age of four. In addition to poetry, "Three Character Classic" and "Thousand Character Classic" can also be read and talked, and recited based on understanding.
Uncle who doesn’t make salted fish: Hello, Teacher Hou, I am a farmer’s child. I have loved reading since I was a child. Reading gives me a pair of eyes that see the distance, which is the richest spiritual source in my heart. I have been working for almost ten years, and I have read various miscellaneous books, including original poetry, lyrics, music, essays, and literary works to economic philosophy, religious history. Confusion comes: the more you read, the more you feel shallow and ignorant, the more you feel panic, the more you dare not write, for fear of missing out, and ask the teacher to explain your doubts.
Hou Hui: There have always been two opinions on reading and writing. There is an opinion that you should read more and don’t be busy writing. Another opinion is not to write or write. The "written ink" here also refers to taking notes, etc., including recording ideas in time and writing them into articles after you have a mature mind. I agree with the latter opinion more. Sometimes, writing is a kind of thinking, after repeated thinking and revision, it is finally written into an article.
How to choose a reading bibliography?
Real: Teacher, do you think Jin Yong Gu Long's martial arts novel is a literary classic suitable for teenagers to read?
Hou Hui: I rarely read martial arts novels, and some teachers (even literature professors) are very interested. I want to say that before the age of a teenager, it is the stage where a person has the strongest learning ability, so it is better to lay a solid foundation. Reading is like eating. Staple food is indispensable and side food should be diverse. It is not suitable for martial arts as a staple food.
Three smile: Hello, teacher ! If children aged 5-6 are asked to read some newspapers and messages, would it be better to go early? Is there a big gap between audio reading and silent reading?
Houhui: I think it's a little too early. Newspapers and textbooks are not literary at all, and reading too much will destroy the sense of language. Audible reading and silent reading have their own advantages and disadvantages. It is better to read poetry and beautiful articles. When reading general books, you must not only train to read silently, but also train to be accurate and quick.
The most beautiful youngest: If you want to enhance your literary expression skills, which book is more suitable to read more?
Hou Hui: Boy, I haven't thought about this question yet. The role of reading is subtle. If you read too much, your expression ability will improve without you realizing it. But there are also people who are consciously training themselves. It is said that the British novelist Dickens reads the law book loudly every morning, and he uses this to train himself to use accurate words and firm tone. I also said before that an old professor believes that reading more ancient Chinese can make the writing concise and concise.
方: There are still too few ancient classic novels, and they are still the same few books over and over again. There are many ancient vernacular novels you mentioned, but you can’t read them? Too trash!
Houhui: Overall, Chinese novels started earlier than Europe. For example, "Romance of the Three Kingdoms" was published in the early 14th century, and the early Western novel "The Legend of the Giant" was already a work in the 16th century. The heyday of Western novels was after the 18th century; Chinese novels emerged in large numbers, almost in the 19th and 20th centuries (related to the innovation of printing technology). But as you said, later works tend to be shoddy, and not many of them are good. What is really called classics are still the six classics, the four major novels, etc.
Ruolan: Professor, is it better to read the original work or to read the simplified children's version of the children in the fourth grade?
Hou Hui: The literary classics we call generally refer to poetry and prose, and ancient novels and operas are also included. What you call the "simplified children's version" refers to novels such as " Water Margin " and "Dream of Red Mansions"? I suggest reading the original work. Literature is the art of language, and it is only natural and only readable. If you just make some abridges, it's barely OK. If it has been rewritten in modern language, don't read it. The July issue of "Teacher Monthly" published an article from me, which mentioned this issue in it. You can refer to: http://blog.sina.com.cn/s/blog_4c08b3740102xp8k.htmlhtml
m: Hello Professor, I am a senior high school student. I have loved reading since I was a child and have no other hobbies. Maybe I have always been interested in reading, and my writing style has always been good. I can write poetry in the second grade of elementary school, and I can briefly talk about Zhu Xi in the fourth grade. I am like friends with the Chinese teacher in the grade. When I was in junior high school, I was addicted to mobile phones and read a lot less books. I could write good articles by relying on my old capital. However, when I was in high school, my writing ability was getting worse and worse, but at the same time, I regained my interest in reading, and my hobby of reading books was only interested in famous works by famous artists. Now I love reading more and more. Although I read it a little slower than ordinary people, I enjoy every reading, but the inspiration I used to disappear. Now I am facing the college entrance examination again, the national composition test questions are red, my thinking is suppressed again, and I feel that it is deteriorating significantly. Now I don’t have time to read, so I almost don’t even have any natural language expression. What should I do? Will I continue like this?
Hou Hui: M Brother, you have feelings for literature and have certain talents, and these are very valuable. I hope you don't waste it (the phone needs to be controlled). You can often fully utilize your talents in a free space. Now that you are in the third year of high school, your schoolwork is heavy, and there are many restrictions on the writing requirements of Chinese classes, it is normal to have no "inspiration". I wonder what the future application direction is? If you can learn literature, I believe that in a relaxed environment, your writing ability will recover quickly, and even make rapid progress, maybe.
Jingtianweidiqi: Children feel bored when reading classics and often seek more thrilling online articles. Is this a phenomenon of "entertainment to death" or is it a normal phenomenon caused by children's poor writing skills? Will it get better in the future? How to guide it?
Houhui: You are right. There are too many temptations now, and watching online articles, TV series, and games are all temptations. It is really not easy for you to let your child sit there and read classics. I think there are two points that need to be paid attention to. One is to observe and understand your own children (children are very different from children), look at their interests and hobbies, learning characteristics, adapt to the conditions of others, and don’t do whatever they do. The second is to choose classic works that suit children's level, from easy to difficult, and proceed step by step. Parents should give appropriate encouragement and inducement. Do not recite the Book of Songs and the Analects of Confucius as soon as they start, so that children lose interest due to boredom. In addition, parents' company is also very important.
"Jin Shengtan criticizes this Water Margin"
"Must drunk": third-grade elementary school students like to read "The Kite Chaser", "Jane Eyre", "Maopassant Short Stories" and "Agatha Detective Novels", is it suitable? Some people say it is too deep, but the child likes it very much.
Houhui: It is a great thing to have an interest in reading . It should be very good to be able to read "Jane Eyre" in the third grade and Maupassant. Parents can also guide their children to read more traditional poems and essays and classical Chinese works, which will be of great benefit to future writing. The masters of modern literature have a good foundation in old learning.
See the charm of the green mountains: Hello, Mr. Hou, most of the books I buy are classic novels, but some classmates complained that I should read more modern literature. Any good recommendations?
Houhui: Hello ! I agree with your approach. Classics are works that have been screened by readers and years, and should be beneficial for opening. What you mean by "modern literature" is a bit ambiguous. Of course, the works of famous artists should also be read. Some online works should not be read more, and they only take up time and energy. I once said that they can also "drown people."
Korean: Hello teacher , I am a second-year junior high school student. I like to read contemporary literary novels. I can’t see or eat classical literature thoroughly, and I always feel that it’s tasteless. What should I do in this situation? Are there any recommended classic Chinese literature with strong storylines? Thank you teacher.
Houhui: Hello. Classical literature includes poetry, songs, prose, novels and operas, etc. I wonder which works you cannot see or understand thoroughly? Actually, if you are not interested, it doesn’t matter if you don’t read it. Maybe one day, because of some opportunity, I suddenly have interest and insights, and it will not be too late to read again. The motivation for learning is not only interest, but also curiosity (or curiosity or exploration spirit). People with strong curiosity often go far, drill deep, and achieve greater success.
Luoyang meatballs: 11-year-old boy, usually only likes to read funny or thrilling story books, and has no interest in Chinese classics. Children are more conservative and are unwilling to try unknown things (not only reading, but also not touching foods that have not been eaten). Is there any way to make children like to read classic classics? For example, I personally like "The Three Kingdoms". Is it suitable for his age to read? Or can you play some games adapted from literary works appropriately? Will children be interested in works of the same name because they like games?
Hou Hui: Do you mean "The Three Kingdoms"? Is the Three Kingdoms? refers to a historical book or a novel? If an 11-year-old child is not interested, there is no need to force it. Children's reading preferences can sometimes change with the growth of age, experience and knowledge, so there is no need to be too anxious. It is hard to say when guiding children to read through games. Playing games is awful, worse than not reading. In short, it is not advisable to be too hasty. When my child is in the fifth and sixth grade, he can read my two sets of books. I have selected some content in my blog, so I can try it out, which may arouse some interest.
Liu Liping: My daughter is just about to enter the fifth grade at the age of ten. She has memorized a lot of poems and is reading the literary classics you wrote to her children. She likes them very much, but she still struggled when reading the four classics. I want to ask, am I too anxious?
Hou Hui: Thanks for her like my book.I do novel research myself and still have feelings for the four great classics. But over the years, I also have a view that children under junior high school can not study for now. Of course, it is not absolute. For example, "Journey to the West" can still be read. In addition, children's hobbies vary. Those who are interested in novels can read them by themselves, but as parents and teachers, there is no need to promote or force them. Memorize more poems and some classic prose, and there are many benefits. I believe your daughter will become better and better.
Mr. Zhang: Hello Professor Hou, my baby is one year old this year. From now on, I want him to start learning. Now I can sit on my lap and listen to my picture books more obediently. I want to wait for him to take him to recite ancient poems a little older. Do you think it is necessary? If necessary, when will you start and what should you read? Thank you!
"World Literary Classics Telling to Children"
Hou Hui: Hello, a one-year-old baby must be very cute! Listen to him more music and watch the cartoons. In the future, you can read ancient poems to him. The ancient poems are beautiful in rhythm. If you listen to them too much, you will naturally be interested, but you don’t have to let him recite them for now. Some people say that four years old is the best time to learn Chinese characters, and I have never done any special research on this. But looking at the children around you makes sense. It is time to memorize poetry after learning to read. If you are not busy, your child will have a long time to learn knowledge.
Line: Pays tribute to the professor's research and dissemination of ancient literature! I would like to ask Teacher Hou a small question if you are interested in the children. Which reference books are better for reading annotation books? I encountered many words and words, but I couldn’t find them in "Ciyuan" and " Authentic Xunhui Zhuan ".
Houhui: You are kind. I have used "Ciyuan" and I have never used "Gu Xunhuizang". I often use the Chinese Dictionary (12 volumes) and Taiwan’s Chinese Dictionary (40 volumes), but there are still words that cannot be found, and there is no way.
imagine: Teacher, I prefer reading foreign literature and books by contemporary writers. I think these books are more suitable for me. For Chinese classical culture, I think this is a current situation for many contemporary readers, but I want to get in touch with classical culture but don’t know how to start. It’s in a contradiction. Teacher, can you give me some suggestions?
Houhui: We need to read foreign and contemporary ones, and we need to read some of the ancient ones to lay a foundation. Reading ancient Chinese literary classics is mainly a kind of cultivation, and also a kind of ability to cultivate. Mr. Lu Xun's vernacular writing is good because he reads a lot of ancient Chinese. There is a scholar Tang Degang who writes good articles. He memorized "Zuo Zhuan" when he was a child, and his writing was naturally different.
Mr. Lujia: Teacher, can you recommend some good children's books? For those of you in the third grade or above, nowadays, children are very good at playing with your mobile phones. They put down their mobile phones and want to read books, but they don't know what to recommend.
Houhui: If parents have enough authority (no disrespect to their parents), they can set the time to play with their children (one hour a day). If you want to play more, there are additional conditions: memorize a quatrain, you can play for 20 minutes more, memorize a regulated verse, and play for 40 minutes more. I want to say that for children who are not yet ready to study, we should find ways to guide, encourage and add some pressure. As for related books, there are too many now. My "Chinese Literary Classics Telling to Children" and "World Literary Classics Telling to Children" are not only a reading guide, but also a large number of poetry works, as well as many plot stories of novels and dramas. Children in third grade can read under parental guidance; if the level is better, they can read it themselves. It mainly guides the way to understand what good things are in Chinese and foreign literature.
