Reading: Reading Fluency & Strategies
B1 Lesson 1: Reading with Fluency and Comprehension
Before You Read 🧠
What Makes a "Good" Reader?
At the B1 level, good reading is not just about understanding words. It's about achieving fluency, which includes four key skills:
A Strategy for Fluent Reading
Today, we will use a powerful "Listen, Read, Check" strategy to practice all four skills at the same time.
The "Listen, Read, Check" Fluency Strategy
- Listen First: Listen to the practice text's audio recording. Pay attention to the reader's speed and how they pause. Don't read along yet, just listen.
- Read Aloud (x3): Now, it's your turn. Read the same text aloud two or three times. Try to imitate the model reader's phrasing and pace. You should feel yourself getting smoother each time.
- Check Your Comprehension: After you finish reading, answer the quiz questions below. This proves that you didn't just say the words, but you understood them too!
Fluency Practice Text: The Kampot Riverfront
The Kampot riverfront is the heart of the town, especially in the late afternoon. As the sun begins to set, the sky often turns brilliant shades of orange and pink, reflecting beautifully on the calm water. Local families and tourists alike stroll along the promenade, enjoying the cool breeze that comes off the river. Many people sit at the small cafes, sipping on iced coffee and watching the fishing boats return for the evening. It's a peaceful and social atmosphere that defines the character of Kampot.
Practice What You Learned 🎯
Step 3: Check Your Comprehension
After reading the text aloud, answer these questions to check your understanding.
- What time of day does the text describe?
- List two activities that people do on the riverfront according to the text.
- What two words does the author use to describe the atmosphere at the end?
Show Answers
- The late afternoon, around sunset.
- They stroll along the promenade, enjoy the breeze, sit at cafes, sip coffee, and watch boats.
- Peaceful and social.
Key Vocabulary Reference
- Fluency The ability to read text smoothly, accurately, and with good speed and expression.
- Comprehension The ability to understand the meaning of what you are reading.
- Accuracy The quality of being correct and without mistakes, especially in pronunciation.
- Pacing The speed at which you read. Good pacing is not too fast and not too slow.
- Phrasing Grouping words together into meaningful chunks as you read.
Your Reading Mission ⭐
Practice the "Listen, Read, Check" Cycle!
Find a short English audio recording that also has a written transcript (the news reports on VOA Learning English are perfect for this).
- Listen: Listen to the short audio (about 1 minute) without looking at the text.
- Read: Read the transcript aloud two times, trying to match the speaker's speed and phrasing.
- Check: Write one sentence that summarizes the main idea of the recording.