Reading strategies
Reading texts in the foreign language helps you to learn new vocabulary, new language structures and how words are used in everyday language. It also improves your spelling and your writing.
You should know that there are four types of reading:
- Skimming: when you skim a text, you read in order to understand the main idea of the text.
- Scanning: when you scan a text, you read in order to find out specific information, for example key words.
- Extensive reading: when you read extensively, you read for pleasure and general understanding.
- Intensive reading: when you read intensively, your purpose is to understand all the information the text provides.
Before you read a text, you should be aware of which type of reading you are going to do. You will have to decide what your purpose is when reading a certain text. Becoming aware of this fact will help you to both focus on the important points and reach your goal.
There are some more tips that can help you to improve your reading skills and to use reading as a rich resource for your language learning.