01 March 2012 ~ 1 Comment

Turn On the CC

In honor of the birthday of the beloved Dr. Suess, the National Education Association (NEA) is promoting Read Across America, which is an annual event that encourages kids to read.  Since 2006, Read Across America has resulted in a stronger focus on not only reading to children, but also many other skills.

The Described and Captioned Media Program (DCMP) has partnered with the NEA in this event by encouraging reading in a different manner.  DCMP is sponsoring Read Captions Across America, which promotes reading closed captions while watching television.

Current estimates say that there are well over 30 million deaf or hard of hearing Americans.  Closed captioning is certainly an indispensable resource to them.  In addition, closed captions can be beneficial to people from many different backgrounds, both with and without hearing.

Millions of Americans are learning how to read or currently struggling with reading.  According to Captions for Literacy, “A picture is worth a thousand words, but add print to the sound and TV becomes a reading tutor”.  By seeing the words on screen while simultaneously hearing them, children are able to gain a better vocabulary as well as correct comprehension and pronunciation of words.

There are also millions of people that are learning English as a second language.  In learning a new language, it is often easier to first read the language than it is to hear it and fluently understand.  By reading English words at the same time as hearing them spoken, people can increase their ability to understand and retain the language.

Motivating children to read is incredibly important.  Turning the closed captioning on while watching television can help this cause.  Of course, reading closed captions can be of great benefit to adults as well.

Be sure to celebrate “Read Across America” by reading closed captions while you watch television on March 2.

For more information, visit the DCMP.

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