25-26 Reading & Listening strategies

• Engels
• MBO
• Studiejaar 1-4

Today

Together: Reading and Listening strategies 

On your own : Practice reading and listening skills 

Objective: 

Students should be able to explain the purpose and benefits of each strategy, highlighting when and why they might be employed during reading or listening activities.

Why reading strategies?

Reading strategies can help you to:

-Improve your reading comprehension skill (beter understanding of the text);

-Increase your motivation when reading (if you know what you read, it could be fun);

-Remember the content of a text and recall the information you need.

Some important reading strategies

1. Predictive reading / Predicting content 
2. Skimming / Listening for gist
3. Scanning / Detecting signposts
4. Reading in-depth / Listening for details
5. Inferring (making an educated guess)
   

Predictive reading?

1. Predictive reading / Predicting content

What it means: You guess what the text or audio will be about before reading or listening.

How to do it:

Look at the title, pictures, or headings.

Think about what you already know about the topic.

Why it helps: Your brain gets ready for the topic, so understanding becomes easier.

Look at these images and the text.

Predict what this
text is about?

Skimming?

2. Skimming / Listening for gist

What it means: You read or listen quickly to get the main idea. You don’t need every detail.

How to do it:

Look for important words or phrases.

Focus on the first and last sentences of paragraphs.

For listening, pay attention to the general topic, not every word.

Skimming practice

Here’s something interesting to think about the next time you go shopping. Have you ever paid attention to the number of trolleys available at your local supermarket? From my experience, it often seems like there are hundreds of them lined up, ready for shoppers. On the other hand, have you noticed how few hand baskets there are? I often struggle to find even one, especially when I only need a handful of items for a quick trip.Why do you think this is the case? It turns out that it might not be a coincidence at all. Many supermarkets intentionally provide a large number of trolleys while limiting the number of baskets. The reason behind this is simple: it’s a clever tactic to encourage shoppers to buy more. When you have a large trolley in front of you, it’s easy to start filling it with items, even things you didn’t plan to buy. Your eyes wander down the aisles, and before you know it, your trolley is overflowing with products.

By contrast, a small hand basket naturally limits how much you can carry. If you are planning to make just a quick stop for a few essentials, using a basket can help you stick to your shopping list. It’s lighter, easier to maneuver through crowded aisles, and reduces the temptation to pick up extra items you don’t really need. Not only does this save space, but it’s also great for your wallet.

So next time you head to the supermarket, take a moment to think about what you actually need and consider grabbing a basket instead of a trolley. It’s a small choice that can have a surprisingly big impact on your spending habits—and on how quickly and comfortably you shop.

What was the text about?

Scanning?
Detecting signposts

3. Scanning / Detecting signposts

What it means: You look for specific information in a text or audio.

How to do it:

Search for keywords, numbers, dates, or names.

Listen for phrases like “first,” “next,” “finally” (these are signposts).

Scan for the word 'exceptions'. 

Every time you're online, you are bombarded by pictures, articles, links and videos trying to tell their story. Unfortunately, not all of these stories are true. Sometimes they want you to click on another story or advertisement at their own site, other times they want to upset people for political reasons. These days it's so easy to share information. These stories circulate quickly, and the result is … fake news. There is a range of fake news: from crazy stories which people easily recognise to more subtle types of misinformation. Experts in media studies and online psychology have been examining the fake news phenomenon. Read these tips, and don't get fooled! 1. Check the source Look at the website where the story comes from. Does it look real? Is the text well written? Are there a variety of other stories or is it just one story? Fake news websites often use addresses that sound like real newspapers, but don't have many real stories about other topics. If you aren't sure, click on the 'About' page and look for a clear description of the organisation. 2. Watch out for fake photos Many fake news stories use images that are Photoshopped or taken from an unrelated site. Sometimes, if you just look closely at an image, you can see if it has been changed. Or use a tool like Google Reverse Image search. It will show you if the same image has been used in other contexts.

3. Check the story is in other places Look to see if the story you are reading is on other news sites that you know and trust. If you do find it on many other sites, then it probably isn't fake (although there are some exceptions), as many big news organisations try to check their sources before they publish a story.

If you know these things about online news, and can apply them in your everyday life, then you have the control over what to read, what to believe and most importantly what to share. If you find a news story that you know is fake, the most important advice is: don't share it!

Scan for the word 'sure'

It is estimated that about 40 per cent of the world’s population use social media, and many of these billions of social media users look up to influencers to help them decide what to buy and what trends to follow.

So what is an influencer and how do we become one? An influencer is a person who can influence the decisions of their followers because of their relationship with their audience and their knowledge and expertise in a particular area, e.g. fashion, travel or technology. Influencers often have a large following of people who pay close attention to their views. They have the power to persuade people to buy things, and influencers are now seen by many companies as a direct way to customers’ hearts. Brands are now asking powerful influencers to market their products. With some influencers charging up to $25,000 for one social media post, it is no surprise that more and more people are keen to become influencers too. If you are one of them, then here are five tips on how to do it. 1. Choose your niche What is the area that you know most about? What do you feel most excited talking about? Find the specific area that you’re most interested in and develop it. 2. Choose your medium and write an interesting bio Most influencers these days are bloggers and micro-bloggers. Decide which medium – such as your own online blog, Instagram or Snapchat – is the best way to connect with your followers and chat about your niche area. When you have done that, write an attention-grabbing bio that describes you and your speciality area in an interesting and unique way. Make sure that people who read your bio will want to follow you. 3. Post regularly and consistently

Many influencers post daily on their social media accounts. The more you post, the more likely people will follow you. 

When do you need to read in-depth?
Listen for details.

4. Reading in-depth / Listening for details

What it means: You read or listen carefully to understand all the details.

How to do it:

Read every sentence carefully.

Take notes of important facts.

For listening, focus on everything the speaker says.

Inferring (making an educated guess)?

What it means: You guess something that is not directly said, using clues from the text or audio.

How to do it:

Look for hints in words, tone, or context.

Use what you already know.

An example; 

A: Tom, did you do your homework?

B: I did, sir, but the dog ate it.

A: That's a terrible excuse. You'll never pass your exams if you don't work harder.

Read the text; 

 As I walked in the door, I was amazed at the beautiful colors and smells. I knew it would be hard to decidewhat I would buy with my $3. The chocolate truffles looked delicious, but they were expensive. The jelly beans were not only cheaper, but so colorful! With so much to choose from, I knew I would be here a long time.

Write where you think the passage is happening and explain your answer

Read the text; 

Anna sat in a café near the river. The usual morning crowd hadn’t arrived yet. The barista hummed softly while making coffee, and the steam from the espresso machine filled the air. Outside, leaves swirled in the wind. Anna sipped her drink, looking thoughtful.

Why do you think the café is so quiet?
How might Anna be feeling?
What can you infer about the season?

Read the text; 

It was Monday morning, and Mia walked into the living room. A cold draft brushed her face, and she noticed the curtains flapping. On the floor lay shards of glass, and the vase her grandmother had given her was shattered. Her little brother, Max, was sitting on the couch with a guilty look, trying not to make eye contact.

1. What do you think happened to the window?
2. Why might Max look guilty?
3. What can you infer about Mia’s feelings right now?

Read the text; 

Lila heard a soft mewing outside her window. When she looked, she saw a tiny gray kitten shivering under a bush. Its fur was damp, and it looked around nervously. Lila slowly knelt down and held out her hand, but the kitten hesitated before approaching.

Why is the kitten shivering?
How do you think the kitten feels?
What might Lila do next?

This week's work.