Nearly all Chinese students say they read for enjoyment, compared to 56% of US students

As school districts across the United States prepare for distance learning this fall, motivation and self-direction are more important than ever for students who will be attending school remotely. This week, we revisit one of our popular stats from earlier this year about how independent reading can foster these kinds of skills.

The 2018 Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) survey indicated that just over half of all 15-year-old US students say they read for enjoyment; however, nearly all 15-year-old students in China say they read for enjoyment. Reading for enjoyment may signal that students are more prepared for the kind of self-directed learning that is necessary while schools are closed. And, according to the PISA Reading Framework, there is strong evidence that enjoyment of reading can be fostered in students by teachers supporting student autonomy, competence and ownership of reading.

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