Book talk

Small School, Big Ideas: Bringing English Reading to Life in Rural Kazakhstan 

In a small rural school in Kazakhstan, we are always looking for creative ways to make English meaningful, engaging and accessible for our students. 

Recently, I organised a 45-minute Book Talk as part of our English Language Week, under the theme “Learning gives you wings to fly.” The session was designed not simply to talk about books, but to help students discover reading as something active, social and enjoyable. 

We began with a Scavenger Hunt in our school library. Students worked in groups to find books based on different clues — a book with an animal as the main character, a science book, a book in another language, a book that had been made into a movie, and even a book with a blue cover. This simple challenge encouraged students to explore our library and discover the variety of books available to them. book talk.docx

We then moved into an open conversation about reading. Students shared their memories of their first books, their favourite authors, books they were currently reading and stories that had made an impression on them. They also discussed whether they read in other languages and what makes a book memorable. book talk.docx 

The most collaborative part was our Book Talk project. Students worked in two groups, selected a book and prepared a presentation. Instead of simply retelling the plot, they were encouraged to think critically: What is the author's message? What would they ask the author? What other title could they give the book? What connection could they make with their own lives? book talk.docx

We finished with a “What to read next?” challenge, where students recommended their favourite books to their classmates. Their recommendations could then be shared with another class or left in the library, creating a small reading community within our school. book talk.docx

For me, this experience was a reminder that innovation does not always require expensive resources. A library, a few books, a creative idea and a teacher who believes in their students can create a powerful learning experience. 

Our school may be small, but our ideas do not have to be