[2018]

[How to Improve
Reading Skills in Target
Language]
[ASSIGNMENT-1]
AHMED SHABBIR
Contents
1. Skimming:..........................................................................................................................................2
2. Read out loud:....................................................................................................................................2
3. Scan your reading before you begin:................................................................................................2
4. Try to guess the meaning of any new words:...................................................................................2
5. Read as often as you can:..................................................................................................................3
6. Choose the right reading environment:...........................................................................................3
7. Read something you’re interested in:...............................................................................................3
8. Read many kinds of texts:.................................................................................................................3
9. Ask yourself questions:......................................................................................................................3
 Conclusion:.........................................................................................................................................4
 References:.........................................................................................................................................4

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 How to Improve Reading Skills

1. Skimming:
Skimming is the process of speedy reading for general meaning. Let your
eyes skip over sentences or phrases which contain detail. Concentrate on identifying the
central or main points. Use this technique to:

 pre-view a selection of text prior to detailed reading;

 refresh your understanding of a selection of text following detailed reading.

2. Read out loud:

This can improve your reading skills because it makes you be
involved with the text in two ways: with your eyes, as you look at the words, and with
your ears, as you listen to them. Reading out loud is also key if you’re trying to practice
pronunciation.

3. Scan your reading before you begin:

Whatever the purpose of your reading
is, taking a few minutes to look the piece over is very helpful. Check and see how the
work is structured and presented. These are easy ways to increase your understanding.
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4. Try to guess the meaning of any new words:

When you
come to a word you don’t know, try not to reach for the dictionary right away.
Instead, try to guess the meaning of the word based on the other words around it (the
context).
 For example, say you read the following sentence and wanted to know what
"pessimist" means: My mother is always happy and optimistic, the total opposite of
my brother, the pessimist.
 From the sentence, you can gather that "pessimist" means the opposite of happy:
being moody and angry.

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5. Read as often as you can:
The more you read, the easier it becomes.
Practicing for at least 15 to 30 minutes a day, every day, will make a big difference.
 Read whatever interests you, if you’re just trying to improve your basic skill.
 Rereading things you’ve already gone through can build your confidence.

6. Choose the right reading environment:

If you really want to concentrate
on your reading, step away from television, music, phones, computers, and chatty people.
These distractions make it hard to focus, dragging out reading and causing frustration.
 Try reading in a quiet, well-lit place with a desk and comfortable chair, if you can.

7. Read something you’re interested in:

  It’s no surprise that you’ll be more
motivated to read a text that you genuinely care about. If you’re given the chance to
select books or other things to read for yourself, seek out topics you are interested in.

8. Read many kinds of texts:

Today we don’t just read books and
newspapers. We read blogs, emails, Tweets and texts. The more you read anything in
English, the better you’ll get at the language.Don’t just read books and news. Read
anything and everything! Find a magazine that you enjoy, follow some interesting people
or websites on Facebook, or visit a blog you like reading.

9. Ask yourself questions:

As you read, ask yourself questions to see if you
really understand what’s going on. If you’re reading a short novel, for example, you
could make notes to the following:

o Who is the main character?

o Where is the story set?
o What have been the most important events so far?

10. Try extensive reading:

Extensive reading works when you’re trying to determine
the meaning of what you’re reading. This technique focuses on the overall picture. It’s
best for things like studying a textbook, reading a newspaper article for information, or
reading a book for school.

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 Conclusion:
1. Have a clear focus for your reading. Set your reading goals.
2. Survey the text before you spend the time and effort involved in detailed reading.
3. Scan and skim to select the text for detailed reading.
4. Scan and skim after detailed reading to reinforce your understanding.
5. Use a form of note taking whilst reading in detail, to keep you concentrating, aid
understanding and provide you with a record of your reading.
6. Using clear reading goals and a variety of reading skills is more important than
increasing your reading speed.
7. To improve your reading speed, don't increase the speed of the eye across the page,
but increase the number of words the eye recognises in a single fixation.

 References:
1. https://www.wikihow.com/Improve-Your-Reading-Skills
2. https://www2.le.ac.uk/offices/ld/resources/study/reading
3. https://www.fluentu.com/blog/english/how-to-improve-english-reading/
4. http://www.ukenglish.org.uk/8-easy-ways-improve-english-reading-skills/