Reading: Reading Fluency & Strategies: B1 Lesson 1: Reading Short Texts with Reasonable Fluency and Comprehension

Reading: Reading Fluency & Strategies

B1 Lesson 1: Reading Short Texts with Reasonable Fluency and Comprehension

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What is "Good" Reading?

At the B1 level, good reading is not just about saying the words correctly. It's about achieving fluency¹. This means reading with:

• Accuracy³: Pronouncing words correctly.
• Pacing⁴: Reading at a natural, "talking" speed.
• Phrasing⁵: Grouping words together meaningfully.
• Comprehension²: Understanding what you are reading.

Today, we will use a "Listen, Read, Check" strategy to practice all four skills.

The "Listen, Read, Check" Fluency Strategy

1. Listen First: Press the "Listen" button and listen to the practice text below. Pay attention to the reader's speed and how they pause at commas. Don't read along yet, just listen.
2. 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.
3. Check Your Comprehension: After you finish reading, open the "Comprehension Check" quiz below. Answering the questions proves that you didn't just say the words, but you understood them too!

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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.

Step 3: Check Your Comprehension

Comprehension Check Quiz

After reading the text aloud, answer these questions to check your understanding.

1. What time of day does the text describe?
2. List two activities that people do on the riverfront according to the text.
3. What two words does the author use to describe the atmosphere at the end?

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Answers:
1. The late afternoon, around sunset.
2. They stroll along the promenade, enjoy the breeze, sit at cafes, sip coffee, and watch boats.
3. Peaceful and social.

Vocabulary Glossary

1. Fluency (*noun*)
   ភាសាខ្មែរ: ភាពស្ទាត់ជំនាញ (Pheap stuat chum-neanh)
   The ability to read text smoothly, accurately, and with good speed and expression. ↩ back to text
2. Comprehension (*noun*)
   ភាសាខ្មែរ: ការយល់ដឹង (Kaa yol deung)
   The ability to understand the meaning of what you are reading. ↩ back to text
3. Accuracy (*noun*)
   ភាសាខ្មែរ: ភាពត្រឹមត្រូវ (Pheap troeum-trov)
   The quality of being correct and without mistakes, especially in pronunciation. ↩ back to text
4. Pacing (*noun*)
   ភាសាខ្មែរ: ចង្វាក់ (Chang-vak)
   The speed at which you read. Good pacing is not too fast and not too slow. ↩ back to text
5. Phrasing (*noun*)
   ភាសាខ្មែរ: ការแบ่งឃ្លา (Kaa baeng k'lea)
   Grouping words together into meaningful chunks as you read, instead of reading one word at a time. ↩ back to text

Homework Task

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).

1. Listen: Listen to the short audio (e.g., 1 minute) without looking at the text.
2. Read: Read the transcript aloud two times. Try to match the speaker's speed and phrasing.
3. Check: Write one sentence in your notebook that summarizes the main idea of the recording.

This is one of the best ways to improve your reading and listening at the same time.