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Teaching Reading
Teaching Reading
4 Teaching Reading
improves concentration
Reading Sub-Skills
Test Results
EFL teachers can use a variety of exercises to target and train the sub-
skills necessary for reading success. Take a look at the following
exercises and determine which sub-skills are being tested:
1.Read the text to find antonyms of the following
words: dangerous, unite, and create.
Skimming
Scanning
Intensive Reading
Extensive Reading
Skimming
Scanning
Intensive Reading
Extensive Reading
3.Read the newspaper article and choose the title that fits best.
Skimming
Scanning
Intensive Reading
Extensive Reading
4.Read the story and write down all the countries the
characters travel through.
Skimming
Scanning
Intensive Reading
Extensive Reading
Skimming
Scanning
Intensive Reading
Extensive Reading
Skimming
Scanning
Intensive Reading
Extensive Reading
Intensive Reading vs. Extensive Reading
Teaching Vocabulary via Reading
One of the most positive effects of reading is natural vocabulary learning, recognition and retention. When
teachers preteach vocabulary that students encounter in their readings, there is a higher chance for retention.
Complete vocabulary comprehension involves knowing a word's meaning and its function. Several factors
complicate vocabulary comprehension because many words in the English language:
o have similar sounds to other words spelt differently with different meanings
Knowing synonyms (words with similar meaning) and antonyms (words with opposite
meaning) of a word. For example:
Recalling and using the word with correct meaning and form. For example:
o adjust + to something/someone
o approve + of something/someone
o depend + on something/someone
o belong + to something/someone
As a lead-in to reading exercises, teachers utilize different strategies to clarify unfamiliar words.
Start by generating a list of words that are unfamiliar to our students in order to discuss their meanings and
function prior to commencing actual readings.
Defining Vocabulary
The definition should consist of simple language that will be understood by the level of students
you teach
o Incorrect meaning: ‘scale - thin bony plates protecting the skin of fish/reptiles’
Use the word in an example sentence that clearly shows its meaning
o Correct sentence: The bike is rusty from sitting outside in the rain for two years.
Provide and drill students with the correct pronunciation of the words from the list so they can
be read more fluently when encountered in the text
Introduce synonyms, antonyms, and usage of the new vocabulary to reinforce comprehension
when encountered in the text
During the reading exercise, point out how the vocabulary is used in context. Afterwards, the understanding of
the words can be further reinforced through:
Have students use the new words in their responses to reading comprehension questions -
Ex. What did the bus driver think about the young boy? A: The bus driver thought the young
boy was humorous.
During reading, when students encounter these words again, their meanings and functions within different
contexts will serve to solidify their comprehension of the vocabulary.
Graded readers (books simplified for EFL students) are recommended to encourage extensive reading outside
of the classroom. When guided reading is performed in class, higher level texts can be used because the
teacher explains difficult words and discusses content with the class.
The more vocabulary and authentic English material students are exposed to, the further we can progress
towards reading more extensive, challenging texts such as:
novels
newspaper/ magazine articles
blogs
reports
articles
poems
literature
etc.
These can be used for intensive reading, extensive reading, and sub-skills training exercises.