Reading: Reading Fluency & Strategies
B1 Lesson 2: Using Headings, Subheadings, and Topic Sentences to Guide Reading
Before You Read 🧠
Key Vocabulary (Click 🔊)
Let's learn the key terms for this reading strategy.
Your Reading "Roadmap" 🗺️
Reading a text without looking at the headings is like driving in a new city without a map. Headings, subheadings, and topic sentences are your "GPS." They guide you and save you time.
Job: Tells you the main topic of the *entire* article.
Strategy: Read this first to predict the content.
Job: Divides the article into smaller, organized sections.
Strategy: Scan these to find the *specific section* you need.
Job: Tells you the main idea of a *single* paragraph. (Usually the first sentence).
Strategy: Skim these to get a quick summary of the whole article.
Reading Passage
Practice your new skills with this article. Notice the Headings (H3/H4) and the Topic Sentences (highlighted).
The Rise of Café Culture in Cambodia
Cambodia's cities, especially Phnom Penh and Siem Reap, have seen an incredible explosion in café culture over the past decade. What was once a simple habit of drinking coffee from a street stall has transformed into a major social and economic trend. These new, modern cafés are now a central part of daily life for many Cambodians, especially the younger generation.
Why Are Cafés So Popular?
There are several key reasons for this new trend. First, cafés provide a "third place" — a comfortable, air-conditioned space that is not home and not work — where people can meet, socialize, or work. Secondly, the rise of social media apps like Instagram and TikTok has made the beautiful design of many cafés a popular backdrop for photos. Finally, growing incomes mean more people can afford these small daily luxuries.
The Impact on Young People
These new spaces are fundamentally changing how students and young professionals study and work. In the past, students might have studied at home or in school libraries. Now, it is common to see every table in a café filled with students and their laptops, using the free Wi-Fi and quiet atmosphere to collaborate on projects or study for exams.
What's Next for Cambodian Cafés?
This trend shows no sign of slowing down, but it is beginning to change. Market experts predict that the future will be more specialized. We are already seeing new cafés that focus on high-quality, single-origin beans, while others are becoming community hubs for art, music, or board games. The simple coffee shop is evolving.
Practice What You Learned 🎯
Quiz: Use Your Reading Skills
Based on the article above, answer these questions to test your new strategies. Click "Check Answers" when you're done.
1. (Prediction Skill): Just by reading the H3 title ("The Rise of Café Culture in Cambodia"), what did you predict the article would be about?
2. (Scanning Skill): If you only wanted to find information about how students study, which subheading would you look for?
3. (Topic Sentence Skill): What is the main idea (topic sentence) of the *last* paragraph?
Key Vocabulary Reference (Click 🔊)
- Heading The main title of the entire article.
- Subheading A smaller title for a specific section of the article.
- Topic Sentence The main idea of a paragraph, usually the first sentence.
- To Predict To guess what the text will be about *before* you read it.
- Trend A general direction in which something is developing or changing.
- "Third Place" A social space separate from home (first place) and work (second place).
- Specialized Focusing on one particular product, activity, or area.
Your Reading Mission ⭐
Practice the 3-Step Strategy
This week, find an English news article online (from the Phnom Penh Post, Khmer Times, or BBC).
- Step 1 (Predict): Read only the heading. Write one sentence in your notebook: "I predict this article is about..."
- Step 2 (Scan): Read only the subheadings. Do they match your prediction?
- Step 3 (Skim): Read only the first sentence of each paragraph (the topic sentences). Now, do you have a good summary of the entire article?
This strategy will help you read faster and understand the main ideas without getting lost in the details.