Reading Skills

The Topics to Explore:

• What is Reading
• Types of Reading
• What type of Reader you are?
• Factors influencing Reading
• Reading Assignment
5 Minutes Self Test

• What do you find difficult about reading at university?

 
• Tick the boxes below:
 Finding enough time and energy
 Maintaining concentration
 Improving speed
 Managing vocabulary
 Selecting what to focus on in texts
 Understanding new, theoretical or detailed information
 Identifying main points and arguments
 Evaluating evidence
 Identifying similarities and differences between texts
 Reading texts that assume background knowledge & experience
 Reading different types of text (case studies, reports, literature reviews
etc.)
What is Reading?

• Reading skills is the ability of an individual to read, comprehend and

interpret written words on a page of an article or any
other reading material. The possession of a good reading skill will enable
the individual to be able to assimilate a written work within a short period
while reading.

• a particular interpretation of something. (MerriamWebster) ■ Reading is

 a skill which enables us to get a message;  recognizing the written
words (written symbols);  getting (understanding) the meaning;  used to
teach pronunciation;  grasping information from texts.
WHAT DO WE READ?

• ■ Calendars, addresses, phone books, name cards, bank statements,

credit cards, maps, weather forecast, pamphlets , ■ product labels,
washing instructions, short stories, novels, plays, poems, handbooks, ■
Clothes size labels, children’s scribbling, informal letters, business letters,
rules and regulations, electronic mails, fax messages, ■ Junk mail,
postcards, greeting cards, comic books, ■ Newspapers, diplomas,
application forms, store catalogues, magazines, radio/TV guides, ■
Advertisements posters, travel guides, cookbooks, repair manuals, memos,
time schedules street signs syllabi, journal articles, song lyrics, film
subtitles, diagrams
WHY DO WE READ?

■ Read for pleasure

■ Read for information
• TYPES OF READING SKILL ■ Skimming ■ Scanning ■ Intensive Reading ■
Extensive Reading 7
• 8. SKIMMING ■ Skimming is a quick reading :  to know the general
meaning of a passage ;  to know how the passage is organized;  to get an
idea of the intention of the writer. ■ Skimming is a more complex task
than scanning because it requires the reader to organize and remember
some of the information given by the author, not just to locate it. ■
Skimming is a tool in which the author's sequence can be observed, unlike
scanning in which some predetermined information is sought after. (Maija
MacLeod) 8
• 9. ACTIVITY FOR SKIMMING 9
• 10. SCANNING ■ Scanning is a quick reading, focusing on locating specific
information. ■ Scanning involves quick eye movements, not necessarily
linear in fashion, in which the eyes wander until the reader finds the piece
of information needed. ■ Scanning is used when a specific piece of
information is required, such as a name, date, symbol, formula, or phrase,
is required.The reader knows what the item looks like and so, knows when
• INTENSIVE READING ■ READING FOR PURPOSE…… course books etc. ■ It
is a "detailed in-class" analysis, led by the teacher, of vocabulary and
grammar points, in a short passage.“ (Long, Michael & Richards, J.,1987) ■
Intensive Reading, sometimes called "Narrow Reading", may involve
students reading selections by the same author or several texts about the
same topic. ■ The success of "Narrow Reading" on improving reading
comprehension is based on the premise that the more familiar the reader
is with the text, either due to the subject matter or having read other
works by the same author, the more comprehension is promoted. (Maija
MacLeod) 13
• 14. EXTENSIVE READING ■ READING FOR PLEASURE… story books, novels,
magazines etc. ■ extensive reading is carried out "to achieve a general
understanding of a text.“ (Brown, 1994) ■ It occurs when students read
large amounts of high interest material, usually out of class, concentrating
on meaning. (Long, Michael & Richards, J.,1987) ■ The aims of extensive
reading are to build reader confidence and enjoyment. ■ Extensive
reading is always done for the comprehension of main ideas, not for
specific details. (Maija MacLeod) 14
• BECOMING AN ACTIVE READER ■ Skimming Ahead and Jumping Back ■
Marking Up theText ■ Highlighting or Underlining Key Ideas ■ Circling
Unfamiliar Words ■ Making Marginal Notes (Questions; Agreements and
disagreements; Connections ; Evaluations) ■ Making Observations
• BARRIERSTO EFFECTIVE READING ■ Lack of grammatical and linguistic
competence ■ Lack of motivation ■ Lack of concentration ■ Proper light
and ventilation ■ Size of the book ■ Articulating the words and
sentences loudly ■ Putting finger, pen or any object on the words and
sentences while reading ■ Narrow eye span
WHAT TYPE OF READER ARE YOU? – A
QUIZ
• You have an hour to spend at the bookstore, where do you start?
• a. Adventure
b. History
c. Browse all of the genres
d. In the middle of all my favorites
• Choose the word that best connects to you or describes you the best.
• a. Fast
b. Curious, always learning
c. Energetic
d. Detail-oriented
• You have to read one book from cover to cover, today. Which will it be?
• a. A fun, uplifting title
b. Tale of Two Cities
c. I have to choose one?
d. A classic I’ve read at least 10 times
TAKE A QUIZ
• What’s your favorite kind of book?
• a. A quick and easy title
b. One that’s entertaining and enlightening
c. One that keeps me sucked in
d. An easy one to read over and over again
• Which would you like to do at recess?
• a. Get ahead on reading my new book
b. Dive into learning something new from a challenging title
c. Run around to burn off all of the extra energy
d. Discuss what I’ve discovered in my most recent book re-read
• What do you look for when choosing a book?
• a. A page-turner that keeps me interested
b. A challenge and something to learn from
c. A book that keeps my attention
d. One that begs to take me back again and again
• How many classics have you read?
• a. All of them – usually in one sitting
b. Too many to count
c. I’m in between many
d. Many of them are still on repeat
TAKE A QUIZ
• What your favorite way to read a book?
• a. Old-fashioned book
b. Audiobook
c. E-reader, so I can take all the books wherever I go
d. All of the above

• Your favorite author comes out with a new book, you:

• a. Run to the bookstore and never put the book down until you are done
b. Brew a cup of tea and dive in
c. I don’t have a favorite author. I love all of them!
d. Race to the bookstore

• What’s your bookmark of choice?

• a. What bookmark? I never put a book down long enough to mark a page.
b. An old tattered bookmark that’s seen as many books as you!
c. I have many
d. Anything from my favorite series
 QUIZ RESULTS
• A Weekend Warrior
• If you answered mostly “A”, you are a Weekend Warrior! Those big chapter books are no match for
your weekend bingesh. You enjoy diving in and not coming up for air until the very last word! Extra
challenging chapter books are your jam!
• An Intellectual
• If you answered mostly “B”, you are an Intellectual Reader! You enjoy pushing yourself to learn about
literature, history, poetry, science, and more. You stretch your imagination and reading
comprehension skills and can’t wait to share what you’ve learned with your fellow intellectuals.
• A Book Juggler
• If you answered mostly “C”, you are a Book Juggler! There are stacks of books on your nightstand
ranging across all different genres – everything from adventures to history. You never can make up
your mind about which to pick up or put down, so you taste test all of them!
• A Series Lover
• If you answered mostly “D”, you are a Series Lover! The continuation of stories keeps you sucked in
and dying for more. The only thing you don’t like about books is having to wait for the next book in
the series to be released!
• A Re-Reader
• If you answered a mix of all choices, you are a Re-Reader. You love all kinds of books and keep them
on a steady rotation. You find books relatable and comfortable, and some of your best friends reside
in the book universe!
FACTORS INFLUENCING ACQUISITION OF
READING ABILITY
Reading Assignment

Please read any of the following book or any of your

choice. After reading, answer as per the attached file.

1. Forty rules of love by Elif Shafak

2. Tuesdays with Morrie by Mitch Albom
3. The Quintessential Fat Girl: Beautiful Is Not A Size by
Hina Shamsi
4. The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho
5. The fault in our stars by John Green