Reading strategies: Reading a text ( Part 2)

In the previous session, I gave some strategies that might be helpful and useful to you in how to read . In this session I will give to you some advices about how to read and understand a text, so that will help you to become a more effective reader.

1.There are 3 types of reading ( this strategy depends on enphasis)

A) SKIMMING: READING THE TEXT QUICKLY JUST TO UNDERSTAND THE MAIN IDEAS.

B)SCANNING: LOOK AT THE TEXT QUICKLY IN ORDER TO HAVE AN SPECIFIC POINT IN MIND OF THE TEXT.

C) READING FOR DETAIL: READING THE TEXT VERY CAREFULLY FOR SPECIFIC INFORMATION.

* These strategies can be used in texts, science, books....

2.This is what you have to do if you have a text in front of you:

2. 1. Look quickly at the text to get an idea of what is about. It will be more easy to understand when you'll read again.

2.2. Read the text more carefully. If the text has quite long paragraphs, write down the main ideas of each paragraph. This strategy will help you to have an idea of the main concepts.

2.3.Write down the words which you did not know before you read the text but which you now understand.

This strategy is very useful  if you want to understand all the text. Also, your vocabulary will be enriched.

2.4. After you have read the text, try to write down three pieces of information you have learned or three ideas you have met

3.-If you're a faster reader you will have advantages like not get bored, mental or physical work.

4- If you're a bad reader and you read below 100 words per minute, you will get bored and you don't understand the text.

5- Don't read with your finger. When we read we don't have to point the words because it makes our brain more slow down.

REMEMBER: "A GOOD READER DOESN'T STOP AND LOOK AT EVERY WORD"



LINKS
http://learnenglishteens.britishcouncil.org/skills/reading-skills-practice

http://www.myenglishpages.com/site_php_files/reading.php#.VK6zW1L5Ph8

Reading Strategies: How to read? (Part 1)

 Sometimes, when we're learning English and we have to read something we cannot understand the meaning, the idea or the concept that has been written there. It is normal to not understand many words because we are not native speakers, but of course it depends on the time you spent it.

Here you have some strategies so that learning how to read:

1. A word is important when it appears many times.

2. Attitude is the most important: if you like or not reading, is an important part of English that helps you to acquire words.

But be careful: if you're reading a text and you have to circle a lot of words and search on the dictionary, you will lost it. This is means that the book which are you reading does not corresponds to your level, so select a low level.

HOW WE CAN UNDERSTAND A READING THAT IS IN ANOTHER LANGUAGE?

Have you ever tried to read a text in another language without know their meaning ? Many people, think that if you don't understand the language used in the text you will not be able to read and understand. Obviously, this is not true. For example, if you have a magazine in Dutch and you don't know the language, obviously it will be difficult to know what is written there but not impossible. There are many ways that it might be useful to you :

EXAMPLE:

"Gisteren was het erg koud . De straten waren leeg "

A: Compare with another language ( Dutch/ English).

B: Read carefully.

C: Look at the pictures.It is easy to understand with pictures.

D:Look at the words, maybe you can find symilar words into your language.

- If the text has a picture+composer, it's much easier to understand.

How we learn Grammar and Vocabulary

When you study a language it's important to know the substantial things that we need in order to learn better. Grammar and Vocabulary are two important aspects that we have to bear in mind if we want to speak fluently.

First of all, without vocabulary it is not possible to learn grammar: vocabulary is the language base. No vocabulary, no phrases.

When you study English, an effective way to learning vocabulary is looking up "x" words that you don't understand in a bilingual dictionary. It will be much easier for you,  to see the word translate into our language, than only the meaning in the language that you're studying. But be careful: words do not have direct equivalents in other languages.

Another way, is reading: if you're reading a text, a book, newspaper, etc.. and you find an unfamiliar word, just look up at the dictionary, translators...

Looking at the pictures can be effective to you: if you don't like much reading newspapers, books..etc ,magazines can help you. Magazines contain lots of pictures so, you can learn new words observing that picture or pictures.

Regarding grammar, it isn't essential to study in order to learn a language, but if you learn the grammar of English you will be able to speak the language very well. If you just started learning English, you first need to know some basic rules of the language. 

Ways to learn Grammar:

A.Read a lot of English books. It will help you when you express your ideas and when you come to check your work.

B.Concentrate on the aspects of grammar you personally find most difficult. Particularly in your writing you can focus on these aspects for special care  when you're editing your work. 

C. If you decide to do grammar exercises, try to go beyond just filling in gaps or doing multi-choice answers. 



LINKS 
http://www.englisch-hilfen.de/en/words_list/alle.htm
http://www.englisch-hilfen.de/en/grammar_list/alle.htm
http://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/en/english-grammar