Reading strategies year 1 MBO

• Engels
• MBO
• Studiejaar 4

Reading Strategies 

Reading strategies

A reading strategy is a tool that can help you out when trying to understand a text.

If you learn how to use these strategies, reading becomes:

• Easier
• Less time-consuming
• More fun

Today, we are going to look at 5 strategies:

• Predicting
• Skimming
• Scanning
• ELZA method
• Intensive reading

Predicting

1. What do you think the text is about?

2. Look at the title and headings

3. Look at pictures.

4. What kind of text is it?

Skimming

Skimming can be used to find out the main idea of a text.

How to skim:

1. Read the text quickly, read the title, headlines, look at images
2. Look for key words that stand out
3. You don't need to know all the words to understand a text

Skimming

Question: 

What do you think this text is going to be about?

What do you think this text is going to be about?

Possible correct answer: The text is about a change in the law when it comes to testing cigarettes, because there is something wrong with the current method.

Question: 

What do you think this text is going to be about?

Scanning

Scanning is reading for specific information, for example when a question asks about something specific.

How to scan:

1. Let your eyes go over the page slowly
2. Try to find key words that also show up in the question (a name, date, etc)
3. When you find the key words, read very carefully. Also read the sentences around it.

Scanning

Question: What was the reason the workers couldn't give their families a good quality of life?

ELZA method

ELZA stands for: Eerste Laatste Zin Alinea. These sentences often contain important information about what you can find in the paragraph.

How to use the ELZA method:

1. Read the first and final sentence of the paragraph and think about what the paragraph could be about
2. Read the rest of the paragraph if you think it's relevant to answer the question

ELZA method

Question: What point is this paragraph trying to make?

What point is this paragraph trying to make?

Possible correct answer: That having a dog can help a child become a more responsible person.

Intensive reading 

1. Read the complete text, the goal is to understand the text completely
2. Pay attention to the introduction and subheadings (=tussenkopjes)
3. Look for the most important sentences and words 
4. Look up the meaning of difficult words 
5. Reread challenging paragraphs and read actively

TIPS

1. First read the QUESTION+ANSWERS, then read the TEXT.
2. You don't need to know all the words in order to understand a text.
3. Practice, practice, practice! Skills need to be TRAINED. 
4. Useful websites: British Council Teens - level B1/B2 or the regular British Council website.

toevoeging: and, also, too

tegenstelling: but, however, although

oorzaak/gevolg: because, since, so

voorbeelden geven: such as, for example

Signaalwoorden (key words)

Deze woorden geven verbindingen aan in de tekst. Zo geven ze je meer informatie over hetgeen dat gezegd wordt. 

Adviezen

1. Brede belangstelling helpt - lees de krant, volg het nieuws. Kijk bijvoorbeeld elke dag Newsround / BBC one minute news.
2. Lees Engelse boeken, artikelen.
3. Brede woordenschat maakt teksten lezen gemakkelijker. 

PRACTICE

- Leesopdrachten maken van de methode maken.

- Examenvoorbereiding oefenen op FACET B1.