Reading Strategies: An Overview
English learners have to work very hard on reading strategies, especially when they have to deal with lengthy texts or new ones. For most learners out there, especially beginners it isn't realistic to expect them to quickly find out the main idea of the text in their first try. Rather than reading every word especially when it is a lengthy text it might be beneficial to look into other methods such as: skimming or scanning. These methods definitely do consume less time, are effective and most importantly bolster your confidence in the process. We will take a look at each technique individually along with when to use each one and how you can work on your English reading to become fluent.
An Overview of Skimming
Skimming is more like a general overview of a text rather than focusing on even the smallest of details which is certainly not the aim here. It is important to note that skimming is employed at the start of reading any new text. This also aids in concluding whether something is worth reading or if it contains relevant information.
What are some benefits of skimming for English learners?
There are several advantages of skimming such as:
- Time Saver: Reading only the crucial points instead of every line helps in saving time.
- Enhances Self-esteem: It helps starters in being used to long texts without them being scared.
- Better Concentration: Instead of reading an entire text, these readers pay attention to the major points and get an overview of the subject.
When is skimming applicable?
Skimming is appropriate in instances such as:
- Reading the summary or the headline of the news to remain up to date.
- Studying before an examination in order to remember major topics.
- Reading through the articles and blogs without knowing if they are useful for you or not.
What are the most effective ways to skim?
- Read the Title and Subheadings: These give an idea as to how the information is organized and the main topics covered.
- Target the Topic Sentences: For English texts, most topic sentences resolve the main issue of the paragraph and these almost always come at the start of a paragraph.
- Look for Keywords and Key Phrases: Words that are in italics, placed within the list or bolded indicate main ideas.
- Skip Certain Details and Examples: Certain aspects of a reading such as examples and minor details are probably not important when skimming so concentrate on phrases that appear to be signposting new concepts or ideas.
Independent Practice: Skimming
Look for a short article written in English like a news article or opinion piece. After setting a clock for 2-3 minutes, focus only on the titles, subtitles and the first sentence of each paragraph. After you're done, see whether by writing a few sentences, you could summarise the pieces' central message.
Concept Of Scanning
Skimming may assist in constructing an idea of what is being talked about however, scanning on the other hand is helpful to quickly find particular information. This is where meaning is not the primary focus of the text that you are receiving. It is only one element such as a particular number, name or fact. Scanning is of particular use where you are answering questions, out looking for dates or when searching for particular data within a text.
Advantages Of Scanning For The Novice
- Enhances Retrieving of Information: Scanning helps you locate relevant details fast.
- Reduces Stress: Rather than re-scanning, you concentrate on the information you are seeking.
- Increases Understanding of English Text Organization: Eventually, in the course of time coursing aids students in comprehending how important aspects of any English text should be sequenced.
When Scanning is Appropriate
Scanning has various applications such as:
- Searching for a particular date or a name in historical data.
- Looking for a term or a word in the dictionary or a glossary.
- Finding particular responses from the given passages for exams.
How to Scan Correctly
- Understand what you are after, like a date, a name, a number, and so on.
- Slide your finger or a pen over the text: As you move your finger or a pen over the text, you grab the opportunity to search as you slide down the page without reading everything unrelated to the topic.
- Go through the text rapidly: Scanning is not about comprehending the text but pinpointing particular words. Move your hand over the text at a fast pace until you are able to get what was required.
- Look for hints in the Text Organization: For instance, signs such as punctuation, bullet and numeric points may mean that some particular information will come after it.
Assignment: Scanning
Take a paragraph from an article you've scanned and look for specific details such as a date, a name, or a number within the text. Try to do just that without having to read the whole of the paragraph and see how fast you are able to get to the required data.
Creative Ways To Skim and Scan
There are times when combining scanning and skimming would be useful. For example, when studying for an exam, you can scan a certain reading to get the –ideas and skim through it scanning for specifics that would help you in answering any questions.
Tips to Master Both Techniques
- Skim Through the Material: the first step that you should do when working through a text is skimming as this basically tells you what you're dealing with.
- Scanning After Getting a General Perspective: After developing an insight on the text, proceed to scan the text for relevant details or answers to questions.
- Text Type and Speed Variation: To make the work done in a shorter time frame, train yourself on how to skim and scan depending on the text you'll be working on.
Kindly Note These Points for Better Comprehension
Remember that it takes time trying to perfect reading techniques so do not worry too much when you have difficulty using scanning and skimming in the beginning. Additional tips to practise are as follows.
- Make Many Small Targets: For the initial stages, consider shorter texts or a paragraph, before trying to focus on longer sections.
- Work on It Almost Everyday: The more times you practise with the methods of scanning and skimming, the easier it becomes. Try to use these methods almost every day using articles, textbooks, or social media posts.
Check Your Understanding: After practising, I encourage you to gauge yourself by summarising the major points that you were skimming or recalling if you were trying to scan and check if the information is still correct.
Use Online Resources: Websites and reading applications have numerous short articles and stories which are ideal for this kind of practice in skimming and scanning.
Stay Patient: These skills need time and practice but with time and practise it will come naturally.
