NUB 2015 Lecture Series
NUB 2015 Lecture Series
NUB 2015 Lecture Series
What is Reading?
"Reading" is the process of looking at a series of written symbols and getting meaning
from them. When we read, we use our eyes to receive written symbols (letters,
punctuation marks and spaces) and we use our brain to convert them into words,
sentences and paragraphs that communicate something to us.
Reading can be silent (in our head) or aloud (so that other people can hear).
1. Listening
2. Speaking
3. Reading
4. Writing
Sometimes you can make meaning from print without being able to identify all the
words. Remember the last time you got a note in messy handwriting? You may have
understood it, even though you couldn't decipher all the scribbles.
Sometimes you can identify words without being able to construct much meaning from
them. Read the opening lines of Lewis Carroll's poem, "Jabberwocky," and you'll see
what I mean.
1st Method: SQRRR is a reading comprehension method named for its five steps:
survey, question, read, recite, and review. The method was introduced by Francis
Dr. Mian Md. Naushaad Kabir 10.01.2015
1
NUB Lectures on Reading, Learning Materials, Testing, & Bilingualism and Biculturalism
Pleasant Robinson in his 1946 book Effective Study, based on principles documented
in the 1930s.
The method, created for college students, can also be used by elementary school
students, who can practice all of the steps once they have begun to read longer and
more complex texts (around fourth grade).
2nd Method: A KWL table, or KWL chart, is a graphical organizer designed to help in
learning. The letters KWL are an acronym, for what students, in the course of a lesson,
already know, want to know, and ultimately learn.
K W L
KLEW
Another adaptation of the KWL chart is the KLEW chart. The KLEW chart was
developed by a group of people with various backgrounds including an elementary
school teacher, a professor and a professional development specialist. Within this
chart, the "K" stands for what students know of a topic, the "L" for what is being
learned, the "E" for evidence that supports the learning previously described, and the
"W" for wondering, which leaves room for further questions. This table differs from the
traditional KWL chart as it places an emphasis on observation and examination of
evidence that supports what they see.
3rd Method: One method used to focus on key information when studying from books
is the PQRST method. This method prioritizes the information in a way that relates
directly to how they will be asked to use that information in an exam. PQRST is an
acronym for Preview, Question, Read, Summary, Test.
1. Preview: The student looks at the topic to be learned by glancing over the major
headings or the points in the syllabus.
2. Question: The student formulates questions to be answered following a thorough
examination of the topic(s).
3. Read: The student reads through the related material, focusing on the information
that best relates to the questions formulated earlier.
4. Summary: The student summarizes the topic, bringing his or her own
understanding into the process. This may include written notes, spider diagrams,
flow diagrams, labeled diagrams, mnemonics, or even voice recordings.
5. Test: The student answers the questions drafted earlier, avoiding adding any
questions that might distract or change the subject.
Teaching Reading
A timetable:
Who wrote the text? Someone who had the information and wants us to know
certain information, such as times, in order to allow us to travel.
What is the purpose of the text? To give (travel) information, e.g. times, places
etc.
How do we read the text? We probably scan through it looking for specific
information which is predetermined, i.e. I’m in X. I want to go to Y. I want to
leave at W and/or I want to arrive at Z.
So when we teach how to read the text in class we want to try and replicate as much
of the real situation as possible. Firstly we need to give the students information as to
where they are, what their destination is, etc. We may also want to focus their
attention on the context and we could use a short listening text where someone is
doing exactly what they will do – trying to find their train. Finally, we can give them a
copy of the timetable and a short time limit in which to find the relevant information.
The way we read the texts is different because the purpose is different. The strategies
we employ are designed to get the information we want from the text in the most
effective way. It is not simply a matter of skimming or scanning, but a set of far more
complex things. We know where we are, where we want to go and when. We’re not
really trying to find out any new information, but simply trying to confirm whether
what we want to do is possible. On the other hand, in the second text we may know
our friend has gone on holiday and we may even know where, but hopefully the rest of
the information is new to us – although not too full of surprises.
We speed read or skim text to get the gist.; scan text to find a specific piece of
information. Skimming and scanning are both quick reading techniques but they have
different purposes.
What Is Skimming?
Skimming refers to the process of reading only main ideas within a passage to get an
overall impression of the content of a reading selection.). When people wish to find
only important ideas and not all the details, they often skim a text. This involves
different strategies; for example, when a person skims a newspaper article, he/she
reads the headline, the opening lead line, the first paragraph which contains an
overview of information. However, the reader probably merely skims the remaining
paragraphs of the article, reading the beginning sentences and glancing at nouns in
the paragraph. Skimming is used when a person is not interested so much in total
comprehension, but is instead trying to locate essential points and major details.
Skimming is used to find the main ideas of a text. Skimming works best with non-
fiction (or factual) material. Skimming takes place while reading and allows you to look
for details in addition to the main ideas.
How to skim?
At the end of each topic sentence, your eyes should drop down through the rest of the
paragraph, looking for important pieces of information, such as names, dates, or
events. Continue to read only topic sentences, dropping down through the rest of the
paragraphs, until you are near the end. Since the last few paragraphs may contain a
conclusion or summary, you should stop skimming there and read in detail.
Remember that your overall comprehension will be lower than if you read in detail. If
while skimming, you feel you are grasping the main ideas, then you are skimming
correctly.
What Is Scanning?
Scanning is a reading technique to be used when you want to find specific information
quickly. In scanning you have a question in your mind and you read a passage only to
find the answer, ignoring unrelated information.
Scanning is a technique used when a person tries to find a specific item such as a
telephone number, a date, a time, etc. For instance, people often scan flight and train
schedules, or they scan a page in a telephone book. When scanning people often
focus on the author's use of organizers such as bold print, lettering, numbering,
colors, signal words such as first, second, and so on. After locating the area on the
page that the person desires, he/she may then skim for more information.
Unlike skimming, while scanning, you look only for a specific fact or piece of
information without reading everything. For scanning to be successful, you need to
understand how your material is structured as well as comprehend what you read so
you can locate the specific information you need.
Establishing your purpose, locating the appropriate material, and knowing how the
information is structured before you start scanning is essential.
How to scan?
Keep the concept of key words in mind while scanning. Your purpose will determine
the key words. Suppose you are looking for the time a train leaves from New York City
for Washington, D.C. The key words to keep in mind are “from New York City” and “to
Washington, D.C.” If you are looking for the cost of a computer printer with the code
number PX-710, the key word to locate in a list of many printers is “PX-710.”
When to scan.?You scan when your aim is to find specific pieces of information. If you
were doing the research for an oral presentation, you could scan the index of books,
web sites, and reference materials. You would discover whether they contain any
information you want and the pages where the information can be found.
Testing Reading
Task 1
1. prediction
2. skim reading
3. gist reading
4. scan reading
5. intensive reading
6. inferring meaning
7. extensive reading
Definitions
Read the description of the different texts and the motivations for reading (a – h)
below. Decide which reading sub-skills and strategies (1 – 7) you would probably
use to read each. Write the number of the sub-skill / strategy in the second
column. You will need to use some of the skills more than once, and some texts
may use more than one skill.