At the Deafblind Association of Slovenia DLAN, we continue our workshops as part of the project DLAN Reads, funded by the Ministry of Culture.This time, we continued reading the book A Very Special Squirrel and followed Čopkot, the main character, as he navigates his own uniqueness.
Before the reading, Slovenian language expert Janja Zver introduced us to the author Svetlana Makarovič, her life, and her rich literary work.
Participants listened with interest to the presentation, which allowed them to gain a deeper understanding of the story.
For many, reading is a significant challenge because they encounter unfamiliar words, which can make comprehension more difficult and reduce motivation. Therefore, while reading the second part of the book, we paid special attention to new expressions. Unknown words were noted down, and their meanings were checked in the Dictionary of the Slovene Literary Language.
Participants also flipped through and touched the book, marveling at the richness of the Slovene language. They discovered how diverse and numerous words can be, and how the same word can carry different meanings depending on the context. Understanding new expressions proved crucial for fully grasping the text and following the story.
To support this, we also created a language corner, where we will record new words and reinforce them in this way. Through these workshops, we not only strengthen reading literacy but also foster curiosity, perseverance, and confidence in one’s own ability to understand written text.
