This is not an accurate word-for-word transcript of the programme. Группа Learning English http://vkontakte.ru/club17650165 Продолжение транскрипта: http://downloads.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/webcast/readinggroup_prog5.pdf
ANNOUNCER: You’re listening to The Reading Group from the BBC World Service. In this series we bring together listeners, students of English, literature teachers and other contributors from the world of books to share their enthusiasm for reading. We hope that following this series will encourage your own interest in reading books in English as a foreign language. Gary: Hello. In The Reading Group today, we join a group of book lovers at their meeting with an award-winning, Nigerian author. But first, some advice for those of you who are ready to take your first reading group steps. In Britain people are describing reading groups as a phenomenon that’s sweeping the country. In North America, it’s been estimated that as many as 5 million people belong to a book club of some sort. If you’re not in one already, perhaps you’ve decided that you want to join a reading group yourself. So, how do you find a reading group? How do you join one? How do you start your own reading group? Well, in today’s programme, we meet the first of two guests who may be able to help. Susan Osborne’s Essential Guide to Reading Groups was published by Bloomsbury in October 2002. Her publishers promise that this book tells you everything you need to know! Susan welcome. Susan: Hello. I'm a freelance writer, a lifelong reader, and I'm also the reviews editor of a magazine. Gary: Susan, how do you explain the growing number of reading groups? Susan: I think they're enormously appealing for people who like to read because they make reading a more social activity, and you can share books that you love with friends, meet new friends, and read perhaps in a more focused way than you would if you were reading just for yourself. Gary: We've had people write to us saying they'd love to join a reading group. Do you have any advice on how to find one? Susan: Perhaps the first thing to do would be to talk to friends, colleagues and acquaintances. You may find that you already know someone who is part of a reading group. If that doesn't work, try asking in a bookshop or a library. And I think that the British Council, for instance, are quite keen to establish reading groups as they are very keen on promoting British culture worldwide. So it might be worth getting in touch with them. They might know something locally. Gary: Well, that's a good idea for some of our listeners certainly. Maybe approach your local British Council office and see if they know of any reading groups or they are thinking about starting one. What about the practical arrangements of a reading group? Let's say you've got some friends together and you want to start a reading group of your own. How can you make sure it's going to run smoothly? What do you need to do? Susan: I think the first thing you need to do is have an initial administrative meeting to decide what you, as a group of readers, want to get out of the group. Then move on to more detailed aspects such as who might lead the group. A reading group does need a leader to give discussions something of a structure. For instance, if you choose to meet in each others houses it could be the host, or it could be the person who chose the book to be discussed. Perhaps also you need to decide where you are going to meet. Would you like to meet in each others homes or would you prefer more neutral ground? Perhaps a room in a library or a bookshop or your local university? Gary: How do you choose what to read at your reading group? Susan: Some people may already have some favourite books that they want to discuss.