Reading Skills

I  An Brief Introduction to this Course
1. The importance of reading

• For a foreign language learner, input is very important. Without input, there will be no output.  What is input? Input here means taking in language material through listening and reading. Common sense tells us that if you have never come across a phrase or a pattern, you will not be able to use it. So, the more you are exposed to the language, the better you are in communication. In terms of input, reading is very important. Why? First, reading is the best way to improve your understanding of the language. And understanding is the first step to graspe the language. Reading is the main source of language material. You can look up dictionary and think. You can go back to the material and reread it. This is the advantage of reading.


• Reading will open windows to the world—enrich your knowledge of the world, of cultures in other countries and in history.


• Reading can acquaint you with the subtlety and beauty of the language.

2. Two types of reading


3. Intensive reading

1.To concentrate effort on a short piece in order to learn the basic skills of the language. The piece is used as an example to show you what are the things you should pay attention to and why. Then it will become a tool for you to be used in reading other things by yourself.

2. Goals of intensive reading

(1) To introduce you to the different features of the English language:

(2) To improve your reading comprehension

(3) To arouse your interest in the texts (in articles written in English by native speakers)

(4) To help you develop your ability in working independently.

3 .The steps taken for studying a text.

A．Before class：

(1)Surveying a text to get an overview of what it is about is very useful. This should be the first step. In doing survey, you are not expected to look up words or expressions in dictionaries.

(2)Reread the text, paragraph by paragraph, trying to understand as much as you can.

　B．In class

(1) Listen to the teachers’ explanation carefully. Compare notes.

(2) Your understanding is correct --a review.

(3) Your questions--take down the explanation.

(4) Your surprise -- those things you think you understand but it turns out that your understanding is not correct.

C．After class

(1) A careful analysis of the things you find difficult in preview and try to pinpoint where the problem lies.

(2) A study of the language used in the text.

B. Extensive reading

1.Goal

The goal is different from that of intensive reading. The emphasis is on speed and quantity. So you need to read easier things and to read more.

(1) To form the habit of reading faster and being able to get the gist. Break away from the habit of translating every sentence (in mind) into Chinese and then feeling you understand the thing.

(2) To expose yourself more to the language. Do not look up a word unless the word unless the word appears for the third time.

(3) To acquire more information through reading.

(4) To have more material for speaking and writing.

2. Materials: Reading material should be easier than what you are having in intensive reading. Otherwise you cannot read quickly.

(1)Simplified books: read 40-50 books of which 20 or so should be read at least three times.

(2)Readers’ Digest or easy originals (Book of Knowledge).

3. Developing Reading Skills

Tips for Increasing Reading Speed

As our eyes move across the page they make a series of jerky movements. Whenever they come to rest on a word that is called a fixation. Most people fixate once on each word across a line of print.

In order to make our speed increase we must take in more words with each fixation, rather than make our eyes move faster.

1. Try to avoid focusing on every word, but rather look at groups of 2 to 3 words. For instance, this sentence could be grouped in this manner:

for instance / this sentence / could be grouped / in this manner

1. Work on vocabulary improvement. Familiarize yourself with new words so you don't get stuck on them when you read them again.


2. If you find yourself moving your lips when reading, force yourself to read faster by following (1.) above so that you can no longer move your lips.


3. Read more! 15 minutes a day of reading an average size novel equals 18 books a year at an average reading speed!


4. Determine your purpose before reading. If you only need main ideas, then allow yourself to skim the material. Don't feel you must read very word.


5. Spend a few minutes a day reading at a faster than comfortable rate (about 2 to 3 times faster than your normal speed). Use your hand or an index card to guide your eyes down the page. Then time yourself reading a few pages at your normal speed. You'll find that often your normal reading speed will increase after your skimming practice.


6. If you have poor concentration when reading, practice reading for only 5 - 10 minutes at a time and gradually increase this time.

There are several books on increasing reading speed available in most bookstores. If you are serious about increasing your rate you may want to work systematically through one of these books.