This report concerns everyday reading practices of others. More specifically, I am interested in the reading habits of two siblings within a bilingual family. I interviewed each sibling in order to gain a better understanding of what they read, the language they favor when reading, the reasons for which they read, as well as the regularity of their habits. I then proceeded to take note of any similarities or differences, and offer potential explanations.

Prior to conducting these interviews, I prepared a series of eight questions regarding the details of individual practice, enabling me to avoid over-generalisations and to obtain adequate answers to address the subject I chose. Thus, here are the questions which I used to structure the interviews and form the central basis of this report:

1. What do you read?
2. How often do you read, both in general terms and in relation to specific types of reading materials?
3. Are there any specific reading materials which you read in a very consistent / regular manner? If so, why do you think these materials lend themselves to such regularity?
4. What languages do you read in? Which languages correspond to different contexts? If you favor one language over the other, how would you explain such a phenomenon?
5. Where do you read? Are there any specific locations that you favor, and if so, why do you choose to read in those places?
6. Where do you find your reading materials?
7. Where do you keep your reading materials? Are there different places that correspond to particular categories of reading materials?
8. What are the reasons for which you read? Do these reasons differ from one type of reading material to another?

The first person I interviewed was my younger sister. She is fifteen years old, speaks both French and English, and attends a francophone school. Upon being asked what she reads, she mentioned comic books and “actual books,” referring to novels, mostly in the science-fiction and fantasy genres. She has started reading manga too, after a friend recommended a series. She said that she reads comic books a couple of times in a month, novels two or three times each week and manga four or five times each week.

She noted that she must read a variety of texts for her English Language Arts class, such as plays, novels, articles and poetry. This is also the case for her French class, although most required reading materials are part of an anthology. My sister must also read textbooks for her other classes. she attends a francophone school, so these textbooks are in French, although most of her personal reading is done in English, which she explained by saying that it is difficult to find good French books.

My sister’s favorite places for reading include her bedroom and a couch in the basement, which are both somewhat isolated spots. She is also obligated to read at school as part of her classes. Furthermore, she occasionally reads newspaper comic strips in the car. These comics are easy to put away, and the format does not require much time, which makes for versatile reading, suited to both short and long trips.

My sister gets her reading materials in a few different ways: through the Edmonton Public Library, from other family member’s book collections, and from stores. She also reads manga by using a mobile application which allows her to access various series. My sister has a few shelves in her room where she keeps her reading materials once she has acquired them. She tends to keep books that she is currently reading closer to her bed for easier access.

I then proceeded to interview my younger brother. He is twelve years old, also bilingual and attends the same francophone school as my younger sister. Initially he described his favorite reading materials as “books.” Further inquiry allowed me to establish that he was referring to novels, more specifically within the fantasy genre. He deems such books to be more entertaining than non-fiction or realistic fiction. He also reads comic books fairly regularly, estimating the interval to be one approximately every two weeks. In addition to the fact that he reads comic books, he also reads newspaper comic strips, which are often kept in the family vehicle. He reads these comic strips during short trips, stating that it helps pass the time. My brother also indicated that the majority of the materials listed above are in English, and that he favors English language reading materials because he finds them more interesting than the materials that are available to him in French.

In so far as the reading that is required for his studies is concerned, my brother mentioned that his English Language Arts teacher demands that students read for a period of thirty minutes in English each day. He said that the reading requirements for his French class are less demanding (ten minutes at the beginning of each class), and that he mostly reads bandes-dessinées. He also acknowledged that he must occasionally read French textbooks or instructions pertaining to assignments for his other courses, but it is worth noting that he did not initially mention these instances, and only did so when I specifically asked him about this type of reading.

My brother does a lot of his reading at home, mostly on the living room sofa, and occasionally in his bedroom. He gets his reading materials from the Edmonton Public Library and his older siblings. Sometimes, he borrows novels that friends have recommended to him. He also gets comic books from his eldest sister. He tends to keep his reading materials in a few specific spots. He stores at least one novel in his backpack, and has a shelf in his bedroom for various books. He also keeps his comic books by his bedside, along with any novels he is reading at the moment.

A comparison of these interviews reveals that both siblings’ reading habits are fairly similar in terms of materials, language preferences, and methods for obtaining and storing these materials. Notable exceptions are the required reading they must each complete as part of their classes and the materials which are recommended to them by their friends – whereas my sister reads manga series that were introduced to her by a friend, my brother’s friends tend to recommend novels.

Both my younger siblings’ reading habits have been influenced by their older sister, who purchases comic books for them or loans them her own. Indeed, one of the probable reasons for the similarities between their habits is that they have been exposed to many of the same factors that influence reading habits: having access to the same books, attending the same school, being fluent in the same languages. It is also worth noting that my siblings are fairly close in age and will recommend books and other reading materials to each other. This tendency to share materials can thus lead to a homogenisation of habits, evoking similarities with popular culture, albeit on a much smaller scale.

Last Updated: Jan 7, 2017