Romantic
storytelling came into vogue about the time that the troubadours began
to compose songs of love and yearning. As time passed, the invention
of the printing press produced mass quantities of books, making them
available to just about everyone. With this change, many people became
literate and took up reading as a form of entertainment.
Couples
also began to use reading in their courting. Both men and women took
turns reading their favorite passages or poems aloud. Through books,
lovers found the words they couldn't say on their own. Lovers would
spend hours searching the texts for just the right words for their
partner and an equal amount of time reading it to them. Books were
given as gifts with special words highlighted and dedications written
to make them more special. Lovers had discovered a way to tell each
other their thoughts, feelings, hopes, and dreams through printed
words.
Reading Builds Good Communication
Skills Why not pick up reading as a new aspect of your courting?
It will make life more interesting. Reading is a form of communication
training that naturally develops effective listening and communication
skills. When you know how to communicate effectively, your
relationship will stand a better chance of being a happy one.
If you
think about what reading to your partner teaches you, it's worth more
than anything you can do for your relationship. It teaches each
partner how to take turns listening, and then speaking, and then
giving feedback about what you've heard. This is a wonderful way of
communicating. Reading to your partner will not only make you feel
closer, but it will strengthen your relationship as well.
Encouraging Your Partner to Read to You
People have different comfort levels with reading out loud,
so you need to be sensitive to this. The best way to get your partner
to read to you is to first let him or her know it's what you would
like. Second, encourage him or her to do it.
If your
partner is uncomfortable reading or you suspect that he or she is,
follow these tips
to make reading to you more desirable for your partner:
Don't
read over your partner's shoulder.
Don't
correct your partner's mispronunciations of words.
Listen
without interrupting.
Praise
your partner afterwards for reading to you. (For example, say, "You
made me feel so special by reading that to me." "You have a great
reading voice.").
Close
your eyes as your partner reads to you.
Give
your undivided attention to your partner.
When
encouraging your partner to read, make his or her attempt as rewarding
as possible. Sometimes people are uncomfortable reading out loud
because of bad experiences in the past. By following the preceding
tips, you will show your partner that reading to you is a positive
experience.
