Reading: Reading Fluency & Strategies (Strategic Reading): B2 Lesson 2: Adapting Reading Speed and Strategies to Different Text Types and Purposes
CEFR Level: B2 (Upper Intermediate)
Target Reading Sub-skill: Reading Fluency & Strategies (Strategic Reading)
Specific Focus: Adapting Reading Speed and Strategies to Different Text Types and Purposes
What You Will Learn
By the end of this lesson, you will be able to:
- Understand why it's important to adapt your reading speed and strategy.
- Identify when to use skimming (for general understanding).
- Identify when to use scanning (for specific details).
- Identify when to use careful/close reading (for deep understanding and analysis).
- Choose the most appropriate reading strategy for different texts and purposes.
Hello Cambodian Learners!
Do you read a fun storybook the same way you read a difficult textbook for university, or the instructions for a new phone? Probably not! Skilled readers are flexible. They change how they read and how fast they read depending on what they are reading and why they are reading it. For example, if you're quickly checking the news about recent developments in Cambodia, you might read differently than if you're studying a detailed historical account of Angkor Wat.
Matching Your Reading to Your Goal
Different reading tasks require different approaches. Here are three main strategies:
1. Skimming (Reading for Gist)
What it is: Reading quickly to get a general overview or the main idea of a text. You don't read every word.
When to use it:
- To preview a text before reading it carefully.
- To decide if a text is relevant to your needs.
- To quickly understand the main points of a news article or blog post.
- When reviewing material you've already read.
How to do it: Read the title, headings, subheadings, first and last sentences of paragraphs, and look for keywords.
2. Scanning (Reading for Specific Information)
What it is: Moving your eyes quickly over a text to find specific pieces of information (like names, dates, numbers, or keywords).
When to use it:
- When you have a specific question to answer.
- To find a particular detail, like a phone number in an advertisement or a specific fact in a report.
- Looking up a word in a dictionary or an index.
How to do it: Know exactly what you're looking for. Move your eyes quickly. Don't read every word. Stop when you find your keyword(s) and then read that part carefully.
3. Careful / Close Reading (Reading for Detail & Understanding)
What it is: Reading slowly and thoroughly to understand the full meaning, details, arguments, and nuances of a text.
When to use it:
- When studying academic texts or complex articles.
- When reading instructions or legal documents where every detail matters.
- When you need to analyze an author's argument or understand complex ideas.
- When reading literature for deep appreciation.
How to do it: Read word by word, sentence by sentence. Pay attention to vocabulary, grammar, and how ideas are connected. You might re-read sections and take notes.
Practice Time!
Activity 1: Which Strategy When?
Read each scenario. Which reading strategy (Skimming, Scanning, or Careful Reading) would be most appropriate? Click the best option.
Quick Quiz!
Great Job!
Learning to adapt your reading speed and strategies is a sign of an efficient and effective reader! This will save you time and help you get the most out of different kinds of texts.