How to improve your reading

Effective Reading Comprehension Strategies for EFL and ESL Students

Reading Comprehension

Reading a text is not about starting from the first word until the end and looking up the words
that you do not understand. There are methods which are more effective to make sure your
reading is efficient.

Pre-reading Activities

1. Activate Previous or Background Knowledge

Before you begin reading an article, activate your previous or background knowledge about a
subject through pictures, voices, and any other aids which stimulate your senses. For example,
if an article is about a food like bacon, see pictures of it, cook it, and hopefully taste and smell
bacon.

2. The Need to Answer Information Question Words

In reading any news article or story, it is necessary to answer the important information
question words of who, what, when, where, how and why. It is important to remember
that the purpose of their reading is not to understand every word in a passage, but to answer
all significant question words.

Reading Activities

1. Get the General Idea and Summarize

The summary of most news articles is found in the first sentence. Here the most important
information question words of who, what, when, and where are answered. In the headline
of a newspaper story, the answers to the most important who and what questions are
revealed.

2. Look for All "Whos," "Whats," "Wheres," and "Whens" During the First Reading

During the first reading of an article, make a list of all "whos," "whats," "whens," and
"wheres."

3. Answer How and Why Questions

Now start answering the more difficult how and why questions. Use the dictionary at this
stage if necessary and any grammar resources at your disposal.

Adapted from an article from Paul Kuehn

Extract taken from About.com

Some links to get some reading practice

http://academics.smcvt.edu/cbauer-ramazani/
Links/esl_reading.htm Reading resources and exercises

http://esl.about.com/od/englishreadingskills
English_Reading_Comprehension_Skills_for_ES English Reading Comprehension Skills for
L_EFL_Learners.htm Advanced Level Learners
How to improve your reading

Intermediate level reading exercises in

http://linguapress.com/inter.htm English
Advanced level Reading texts and
http://www.breakingnewsenglish.com
exercises
Reading texts and exercises (instructions
http://www.mansioningles.com/Lectura01.htm
in Spanish)

http://www.manythings.org/voa/stories/ Stories to read and listen

http://www.bartleby.com Free books

www.booksshouldbefree.com Free audiobooks

Newspapers in English

http://www.timesonline.co.uk

http://www.onlinenewspapers.com

http://www.newspapers.com/

http://www.guardian.co.uk/