Reading books aloud isn’t just for kids
Michael Griffith speaks to WVXU on why it's important to read aloud as an adult
WVXU host Lucy May interviewed Michael Griffith, a University of Cincinnati professor of English, for a radio segment on how reading aloud benefits adults.
“For children it’s a way to get introduced to language, but for adults it gives an emphasis on community,” Griffith told listeners.
May explained how research shows reading aloud is brain beneficial for adults and expounded with conversation around the rise in audio books since 2020.
“During the pandemic we were force to un-isolate ourselves,” and adults did that in many ways to include listening to the radio more and using audio books, says Griffith.
Griffith says he likes to compare reading aloud to the slow food movement, which invites the diner to take time to relish the dish: “Reading aloud allows you to live in the work…invites us to slow down in a world that’s all about hustle, hustle, hustle.”
Today, he says adults tend to take in media passively, whereas being read to or reading aloud gives license to slow down and be introspective.
Feature photo at top: iStock Photo/Porta
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