READING SKILL
Reading is the most useful and important skill. It is more important than speaking and writing. Reading is a source of joy. Listening and speaking are the reproductive aspects, and reading and writing are the productive aspects of language skills. The learners of English must know how to read English because reading opens the gate of knowledge.
MICRO
SKILLS
Some micro-skills are involved in reading. The reader has to:
1. Decipher the script. In an alphabetic system or a syllabary, this means establishing a relationship between sound and symbol. In a pictograph system, it means associating the meaning of the words with the written symbols.
2. Recognise
vocabulary.
3. Pick out keywords.
4. Such as those
identifying topics and main ideas.
5. Figure out the
meaning of the words, including unfamiliar terms.
6. Vocabulary, from the written context.
7. Detect sentence constituents, such as subject, verb, object, preposition, etc.
TYPES OF
READING
There are mainly six types of reading:
1. Loud reading.
2. Silent reading.
3. Intensive
reading.
4. Extensive
reading.
5. Supplementary
reading.
6. Library
reading.
In the recent publication of Day 1993, which gives a variety of new ways of teaching reading, the editor classifies reading into three kinds:
1. Loud/Oral reading
3. Extensive reading
LOUD
READING: Loud reading is also known
as oral reading. While teaching loud reading, the teacher should emphasise correct pronunciation. He should correct the wrong pronunciation immediately
and give a drill of correct pronunciation to the entire class.
ADVANTAGES
OF LOUD READING:
1. Students follow the model reading of their teacher and thus
learn the right method of reading.
2. This develops the skill of speech and giving lectures.
3. Mistakes concerning pronunciation can be corrected quickly.
4. It trains sensory organs – eyes, ears, and mouth – because in
loud reading, they work in coordination.
5. Students learn by imitation.
SILENT
READING: While doing silent reading, the student should concentrate his/her attention on understanding the subject
matter or topic. It means that reading should be silent without disturbance
from any quarter. Silent reading is regarded as the most important aspect of
reading:
ADVANTAGES
OF SILENT READING:
1. Obviously, the speed in silent reading is more than in the
case of reading aloud, so it saves time and energy.
2. It develops the ability
to read with interest.
3. After reading a passage, the students can translate it into
their own language.
4. It initiates self-education and deep study.
5. In later life, silent reading has immense value in public places.
INTENSIVE
READING: Intensive reading means
the detailed study of the prescribed prose/passage. Intensive study is.
Therefore, also called a detailed study, intensive reading requires
concentration on the subject matter.
THE
OBJECTIVES OF INTENSIVE READING:
1. To promote a deeper knowledge of the language on the subject
matter and the power of expression.
2. To enable the students to understand the matter and write the English language correctly.
3. To develop the habit of thinking in English among the
students.
4. To enable them to pronounce the words correctly.
5. To enable them to know the language completely by heart.
STEPS IN
INTENSIVE READING:
The following steps should be taken for intensive reading:
1. Selection of the topic.
2. Introduction of the
topic.
3. Presentation of text.
4. Model reading.
5. Loud reading.
6. Explanation.
7. Testing the comprehension level of students.
ADVANTAGES
OF INTENSIVE READING:
1. It increases the active
and accurate vocabulary.
2. It helps in learning
grammar.
3. It explains the
meaning.
4. It improves the power
of expression.
5. It is the most effective method of teaching the subject matter.
EXTENSIVE READING: Extensive reading is also known as rapid reading or independent reading. Extensive reading has been strongly recommended by the Indian Education Commission (1964-66). The chief purpose of extensive reading is to concentrate on the subject matter. Extensive reading means reading silently and quickly to understand the subject matter.
THE
OBJECTIVES OF EXTENSIVE READING:
1. To enable the students to understand the meaning of the
passage and prose as clearly as possible.
2. To increase the
accurate and active vocabulary of students.
3. To develop an interest
in reading in the students.
4. To promote the habit of
self-study in students.
5. To develop the power of concentration in students.
STEPS IN
EXTENSIVE READING:
The following are the steps in extensive reading:
1. Introduction.
2. Silent
reading.
3. Questioning.
4.
Recapitulation.
In the procedure of extensive reading, it is desirable to have
the following points in mind, as advised by Thomas and Wyatt:
1. The matter
must be understood by readers to increase interest.
2. The matter
should be read rapidly; otherwise, interest will flag.
ADVANTAGES OF EXTENSIVE READING:
1. It keeps the entire class busy and active.
2. It helps in the assimilation of ideas and thoughts.
3. It increases vocabulary.
4. It has a high transfer of learning value. Since it prepares students for library reading.
SUPPLEMENTARY
READING
The function of supplementary reading is to supplement the work
of intensive reading. The supplementary reader should be in a standard language so that the students may read and understand it with someone’s help.
ADVANTAGES
OF SUPPLEMENTAL READING
1. The words and phrases occurring in the textbook occur again in
supplementary reading. In this way, they become firmly established in the minds
of pupils.
2. The pupils develop a habit of reading.
LIBRARY
READING:
Library reading is like supplementary reading. It encourages
extensive reading, but both differ at different points. The important points
about library reading are:
1. It is not a
supervised reading.
2. It is done in
a formal classroom situation of a classroom.
3. It is not done
in set lessons.
METHODS
OF TEACHING READING:
There are seven main methods of teaching reading. These are:
2. Syllabic method.
3. Word method.
4. Phrase method.
5. Sentence method.
6. Story method.
7. Phonics method.
AIMS OF
TEACHING READING:
1. To read
English with accuracy.
2. To read with
fluency.
3. To read with the correct pronunciation.
4. To read with
understanding.
5. To enable
pupils to take pleasure in reading.
6. To enable
pupils to form a habit of reading.
