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Centaur Schools' Reading Tips - Read about a topic with which you are familiar.
- When reading an article, think about the title- what do you know about the subject? What do you want to know? Now read the first sentence of each paragraph. What is the article about?
- Write down a list of questions you want answered by the article. While you read the article try to answer them. Are you still interested in finding the answers? Look for other readings on the topic.
- Read short stories- trying to read a novel can be frustrating.
- Improve your reading speed. Time how long it takes you to read a page in your text. Try to read faster next time you read a page. Set a time limit.
- If you do not understand 70% of a reading, it is too hard for you. Find something else. If you find something that you do understand 70% of that is good enough: do not worry if you do not understand every word.
- Do not use your dictionary too much. Limit dictionary use to around five words a page, and do not look them up until you have finished the text. Once you have learnt their meanings, do the reading again. If you keep looking up words you will get frustrated and never finish a reading. You will almost certainly miss the main ideas. Use context to figure out what words mean. If you have a rough idea what a word means- e.g. 'that means big' that is good enough. Remember that most of the words you know in your own language you learn this way. Most of the words you know in your own language you did not look up in a dictionary nor were you told what they meant by your parents.
- Make a brief summary of what you have read. Try to summarize each paragraph with one sentence. Put these ideas into your own words. Do not change them into your own ideas, but do not plagiarize. All of this writing helps you remember information better, and makes you look out for key ideas the next time you read.
- Read the passage again.
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