You Can Read in English But Do You Really Comprehend What You Read?

The reason for reading is to relate what you happen to be reading with what you already know. In this sense, if you do not know anything about what you are reading, it is like trying to grab a handful of air... a wasted effort.

Take these digits, for example:

3285784, is difficult to read and retain.
328-5784, is easier to read and retain because of the separation.
363-0246, is easy to grasp due to prior information and organization.

Equally, if you are into investing, reading an investment article is easy for you to comprehend, because in your mind you have a background for reading, understanding and storing this information.

When reading, comprehension needs motivation, a mental background for saving the ideas, concentration, and an effective study technique. Here are several ideas you can implement to help you improve your reading comprehension to get the best out of your ESL classes.

1. Broaden your background. You can easily do this by reading newspapers, magazines, websites and books. Get interested in world events and other different topics related to your career or place where you live.

2. Learn paragraph structure. A good writer knows how to form a clear sentence in order to create a good paragraph with a beginning, middle, and an end. The first sentence will provide an overview that gives background for further details. Identify transitional words, phrases and paragraphs that are used to change the topic.

3. Spot the kind of reasoning. Is the author using induction and deduction, hypothesis, systems thinking or model building, for example? You should develop critical thinking skills to consciously absorb what you read.

4. Anticipate, predict. Skillful readers try to foresee what the author will say or ask. If you are right, it strengthens your comprehension, and if you are wrong, you can easily adjust.

5. Identify how the work is organized. For example, it can have a chronological, serial, logical, spatial, functional or hierarchical order.

6. Get motivated and interested. Ask questions; discuss opinions with your classmates; research materials. You will comprehend much more if you have a real interest in what you are studying.

7. Get support from signs. Pay attention to pictures, graphs and headlines. Read the first and last paragraphs of a chapter.

8. Highlight, summarize and review the main ideas. This is the only way to really grasp a book.

9. Increase your vocabulary. This could be a lengthy task. Use the dictionary regularly to look up every word you don't know. Make a list of words and look them up later, never leave a new word unattended. Use techniques to help you organize and remember vocabulary like mind maps, where you place different words surrounding a main idea they relate to.

10. Use a reading technique you feel comfortable with. Adjust it to fit your priorities and purpose.

11. Monitor your improvement. The top readers measure how their attention, concentration and effectiveness are doing. If they don't grasp an idea, they go back immediately and reread it.

Yes, it takes a great deal of effort to improve your reading comprehension. But as you notice your overall improvement in your ESL classes, you'll know it was definitely worth it!

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