Sub-skills

The language skills of speaking, listening, writing and reading are often divided into sub-skills,
which are specific behaviours that language users do in order to be effective in each of the skills.

Example
Learners developing the skill of listening need to have the sub-skill of being able to recognise
contracted forms in connected speech.

In the classroom
Learners spend time developing a wide range of sub-skills as they build each of the four skills.
Amongst the sub-skills focussed on are scanning and skimming in reading, organisational and
editing skills in writing, recognition of connected speech and understanding gist in listening,
and pronunciation and intonation in speech

Video Transcript: Reading Textbooks Using SQ4R

SQ4R is a method of reading text that allows you to truly absorb the material you’re
studying. It places emphasis on translating the text into your own words, so that you
really understand it.
SQ4R contains six steps, as the name indicates: survey, question, read, respond,
record, and review.
First, you survey the text. So before you read a chapter of your textbook, for example,
you should first skim through it. Read the titles, subtitles and captions, look at any
charts, pictures, or graphs. Finally, read through the chapter summary at the end. If
there are summary questions, read those too. It will give you an idea of what’s
important in the chapter.
Next, we move into “Question.” Turn each subheading or title into a question. So,
here, the subheading is “Communication Technology.” The question, in the context
of this chapter, would be: “How has communication technology changed the world of
work?” You can keep it in your head, or write it down to remember it. Then ask
yourself if you already know anything about the subject. Maybe you remember your
professor saying something about it in class. Keep that in mind as well.
Now it’s time to read. But don’t just read the chapter to get through it. Try to actively
read. Think about the questions you asked and search for the answer. Remember the
questions from the summary, and try to find their answers too. Focus on one section at
a time, and make sure you understand it. If you don’t understand it, reread it. Look at
the charts or images, and connect them to the text.
You’ll then be ready to respond. Summarize what you just read to yourself and make
a special note of key concepts. It helps to recite your answers out loud in order to
engage another one of your senses. Now try to answer your original question in your
own words. You may also find that your question wasn’t actually the right question to
ask. “What is qualitative research?” might not work if the passage was written to
provide examples rather than a definition. You’d have to change your question to
“What are some examples of qualitative research methods?”
Now that you’re sure you understand the chapter, you can move onto recording the
information. This can be done in whichever way you find most helpful. You can
highlight key passages or write notes in your own words. Of course, writing your own
notes gives you the advantage of actively learning the information, as well as giving
you a portable packet of notes you can study from, anywhere, without lugging a
textbook around. It will make the next step significantly easier, as well. The most
important thing is that you understand the material before you record it. Don’t attempt
to do both at once.
Finally the last step: “Review.” Now that you’ve finished with the chapter, read over
your notes. Now use the summary questions and questions you created to quiz
yourself. Recite your answers out loud to help you remember. It’s also helpful to
regularly review. If you review once a week, studying for your exams will be much
easier. You’ll simply be remembering information you already know, rather than
relearning information you forgot.