3,500 children take part in the Summer Reading Challenge in Thailand
The British Council has been running the Summer Reading Challenge in Thailand for the last 6 years and the children involved always look forward to it. This year was the biggest yet with almost 3,500 children from all over the country taking part.
The Challenge is run in language centres and schools in Thailand. It started in November and ends in February, so children have four months to try and complete the challenge of reading six books. But this extra time is valuable to children taking part in other countries, as they are reading six books in English, and therefore, their second language.
Launching the Challenge
The November start fitted perfectly with the Creepy House theme, and they kicked the Challenge off with a Halloween fancy dress competition. They were then introduced to all the creepy characters and enjoyed a session making bookmarks and choosing their first book.
British council staff were a little worried about keeping up the momentum of the Challenge over four months when children are busy keeping up with school work, preparing for exams and taking part in extra-curricular activities. But, the children have embraced it, and have been eager to read, and move on to their next book. One centre was so inundated, they even ran out of books!
Time to celebrate
The Challenge will culminate the week before World Book Day when children will dress as their favourite character from a book. They’re going to choose the best costume and award certificates for those who have completed the Challenge. The completers will also be put in to a prize draw to win book vouchers for one of Thailand’s biggest book stores.
British Council staff are hoping that even more children will take part next year. They already have lots of enthusiasm for next year’s challenge. Win, aged 9, is very keen. He just wants to know, ‘When does the next Reading Challenge start?!’
