Lana Oconnell
Reading comprehension is a skill that can be improved with practice and a game plan. It is the understanding of what a text means and the ideas the author is trying to convey, both textual and subtextual. International students can improve their reading comprehension by first understanding their current reading habits and limitations. They can then employ strategies such as reading aloud, summarizing paragraphs, creating graphic organizers, and asking questions to improve their comprehension. Additionally, they can utilize educational apps and online resources to enhance their reading skills. By combining guided and relaxed reading practices, international students can improve their reading comprehension and make connections between texts and their prior knowledge.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Reading aloud | Improves comprehension by engaging multiple senses |
| Reading more | Spending more time reading improves comprehension |
| Summarizing | Writing a summary of each paragraph improves comprehension |
| Asking questions | Asking questions about the text improves comprehension |
| Using graphic organizers | Using visual aids to organize the main ideas and details of a passage improves comprehension |
| Identifying the main idea | Making a conscious effort to identify the main idea of a passage improves comprehension |
| Vocabulary knowledge | Understanding the meaning of words and having background knowledge improves comprehension |
| Text comprehension | Understanding the author's ideas and connecting information between texts or prior knowledge improves comprehension |
| Reading speed | Adjusting reading speed to the difficulty of the text improves comprehension |
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What You'll Learn
Identify the main idea
Reading comprehension is a skill that can be improved with practice and a game plan. A key aspect of improving reading comprehension is identifying the main idea of a passage. This means understanding what the passage is about, why it matters, and what its key points are. Here are some strategies to help international students identify the main idea of a text and improve their reading comprehension:
Summarise as You Read
After reading a paragraph, write a sentence or two to summarise its main points. Ask yourself: Is the author's thesis supported? Are there any opposing views introduced? Asking such questions can help you understand the text better and identify the main idea. Summarising is a form of active reading, which is crucial for improving reading comprehension.
Make Connections
Try to connect the content of the text to your experiences, thoughts, ideas, and other texts. Making connections helps you achieve a deeper understanding of the material and identify the main idea more effectively. This strategy is particularly useful for international students as it allows them to relate the text to their own cultural context and prior knowledge.
Use Graphic Organisers
Graphic organisers, such as concept maps, webs, and note-taking templates, can help you visually organise the main idea and details of a passage. Filling out a graphic organiser after reading helps you reinforce your memory of the text and identify its most important elements. This technique is especially beneficial for visual learners.
Read Aloud
Reading aloud engages both your auditory and tactile-kinesthetic senses, improving your comprehension and retention of the material. When you read aloud, you are more likely to remember what you have read and understand it on a deeper level. This technique can be particularly useful for international students as it helps with pronunciation and vocabulary acquisition.
Adjust Your Reading Speed
Pay attention to your comprehension as you read and adjust your speed accordingly. If you find your attention waning or your comprehension flagging, slow down and focus on understanding the current section before moving on. Building up your reading stamina gradually will help you stay engaged with the material and better able to identify its main idea.
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Summarise as you read
Summarising as you read is a great way to improve reading comprehension. It is a conscious plan that can be used to make sense of a text. It is a critical part of the learning process, helping students to move beyond literal comprehension and into higher levels of thinking.
To summarise as you read, you should first clarify your purpose for reading and preview the text. Then, as you read, monitor your understanding, adjusting your reading speed to the difficulty of the text. If you come across an unfamiliar word, look it up in a dictionary before you continue. After reading a paragraph, write a sentence summarising the main points. Ask questions like who, what, when, where, and how, and then look for the answers as you continue reading. This will help you to understand what you are reading and to identify the main idea of the passage.
You can also use graphic organisers to help you organise the main idea and details of the passage in a visual way. Choose an appropriate organiser to write down what happened at the beginning, middle, and end. Alternatively, use an informational organiser to note down details about what you have read. The act of writing helps you to remember what you have read.
It is important to remember that reading comprehension is a skill that improves with practice. You should dedicate yourself to engaging in a combination of both "guided" and "relaxed" reading practice for at least two to three hours a week. Guided practice will involve structure and focused attention, such as learning new vocabulary words and testing yourself on them. Relaxed practice will involve reading for pleasure without pressure.
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Use graphic organisers
Graphic organisers are a highly effective tool to improve reading comprehension for students, with numerous studies backing up their efficacy. They are particularly beneficial for visual learners, which can be up to 65% of the population.
Graphic organisers are a hands-on approach to learning, increasing student engagement as they actively contribute to their learning journey. They stimulate both the creative and logical parts of the brain, employing various cognitive skills such as brainstorming, idea generation, organising information, and critical analysis.
Graphic organisers provide a clear and tangible process for students to gather key information and make sense of what they have read. They help students develop their comprehension of a concept or topic by providing a framework to explore links, relationships, causes, and effects. These tools allow students to clarify, organise, and simplify their thoughts and the information they have been given, in a visual manner.
To use graphic organisers effectively, it is important for students to see the process in action. Teachers should model how they extract information from the text and decide where to place it in the organiser. Teachers can choose a familiar text and think out loud as they complete the organiser, so students can understand the process. Then, students can apply this process to a different text.
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Read aloud
Reading aloud is a simple yet powerful technique to enhance reading comprehension, particularly for international students. It involves engaging multiple senses, such as hearing and seeing, to improve understanding and retention. By reading aloud, students can integrate auditory learning, listening to the words, and tactile-kinesthetic learning, which is the act of speaking the words aloud. This multisensory approach intrinsically builds reading comprehension and makes learning more effective.
For international students, reading aloud offers several benefits. Firstly, it increases vocabulary and improves word recognition. When teachers read aloud to multilingual learners, they can introduce crucial words and concepts before reading, ensuring students understand the key vocabulary. This approach helps students develop automaticity, which is the ability to process and produce language effortlessly. Additionally, reading aloud exposes students to the rhythm, intonation, and variations in pitch of the English language, enhancing their fluency.
Another advantage of reading aloud is its positive impact on student concentration and attention. When teachers read aloud, they capture the students' focus, creating a bond and a shared experience. This method appeals to a diverse range of learners, from high achievers to struggling students. It motivates students to explore new books and fosters a love of reading, encouraging them to view themselves as readers.
Furthermore, reading aloud sparks imagination and creativity. International students, in particular, can benefit from hearing diverse stories with unique characters and settings, opening up a world of possibilities in their minds. Teachers can further enhance this experience by incorporating follow-up activities that stimulate imagination and creative thinking once a book is completed.
While reading aloud is beneficial, it is important to note that text-to-speech and read-aloud tools have also been explored as potential aids for students with reading disabilities. These tools translate written text into spoken text, enabling students to listen while reading along. However, more research is needed to determine their effectiveness in improving reading comprehension. Nevertheless, they may assist students in accessing material beyond their basic reading level, particularly in advanced coursework.
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Monitor comprehension
Monitoring comprehension is a crucial aspect of improving reading comprehension, especially for international students who may face additional challenges due to language barriers or cultural differences. Here are some detailed strategies to enhance monitoring comprehension:
Identify Main Ideas and Supporting Details:
International students should focus on identifying the main idea of a passage. This involves understanding who or what the passage is about and why it matters. By quickly grasping the subject and identifying a few supporting details, students can form a clear mental picture and a more comprehensive understanding of the text. This conscious effort enables them to create an "elevator pitch" of the text, helping them retain and recall the information more effectively.
Utilize Graphic Organizers and Note-Taking:
Graphic organizers, such as concept maps, webs, and note-taking templates, are valuable tools for organizing and visualizing the main ideas and details of a passage. After reading a text, students can use graphic organizers to outline the beginning, middle, and end of a story or the key details of an informational text. The act of writing or taking notes improves memory retention and helps students better remember what they have read. Color-coding notes with colored pencils can also enhance this process.
Summarize and Ask Questions:
Encourage students to summarize each paragraph in a sentence or two to reinforce their understanding of the main points. Asking questions during this process further enhances comprehension. These questions can include the basic “who, what, when, where, and how” to ensure a comprehensive grasp of the text. Additionally, students can create links between the text and their experiences, thoughts, ideas, or other texts they have read, fostering a deeper level of comprehension.
Adjust Reading Speed and Fix Comprehension Problems:
Students should learn to monitor their understanding in real-time and adjust their reading speed accordingly. If they encounter a challenging paragraph or sentence, they can employ strategies to address comprehension problems. This may involve re-reading the sentence, paraphrasing it in their own words, or referring back to previous parts of the text for clarification. By actively addressing comprehension issues as they arise, students can improve their overall understanding of the material.
Cooperative Learning and Teacher Modeling:
Cooperative learning, where students work in pairs or small groups, can be an effective strategy for monitoring comprehension. Students can discuss their understanding of the text, ask each other questions, and clarify concepts for one another. Additionally, teachers play a vital role in modelling comprehension strategies. They can think aloud while reading, demonstrating how to apply specific strategies to improve comprehension. This modelling process helps students understand how to implement these strategies independently.
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Frequently asked questions
International students can improve their reading comprehension by:
- Reading aloud to improve understanding and retention.
- Summarising paragraphs in their own words to ensure they understand the main points.
- Using graphic organisers, mind maps, and note-taking to visually structure information.
Strategies to improve reading comprehension include:
- Identifying the main idea and supporting details of a passage to gain a clear understanding.
- Reading slowly and isolating text to improve focus and comprehension.
- Using dictionaries to look up unfamiliar vocabulary to prevent missing key points.
Some general tips to improve reading comprehension are:
- Practising both "guided" and "relaxed" reading to improve comprehension without losing enjoyment.
- Understanding your current reading habits and limitations to create a tailored plan.
- Asking critical questions to engage more deeply with the text and improve comprehension.
