Reading skills

Reading is a core activity of study and it is very important for learners to be aware of the deeper impact of their reading. The underlying purposes of reading are:

	familiarisation with new ideas and information
	expansion of vocabulary
	development of thinking
	looking at problems from different angles

You can work with learners to help them read more effectively and help them to develop skills to:

	clarify what they are looking for
	find information quickly
	use a recommended reading list effectively
	examine sources effectively
	select relevant information
	make maps of ideas
	read effectively
	concentrate
	use additional technical equipment

Based on these steps learners should be able to build a personal strategy to develop and improve reading effectiveness.

To help learners engage with the ideas in the text they could do the following:

	define the task
	underline or highlight the key points (only if the text is your own personal property!)
	take notes
	stop to look ahead or back in the text when the thread of the argument has been lost
	critically analyse a short section
	check across to other sources
	summarise the key points
	monitor progress
	change the approach when necessary

To be effective readers your learners have to be able to work out what they are trying to achieve and how well they are progressing.