Reading: Scanning for Specific Information
Lesson 1: Finding Your Name or Familiar Words in a List
A New Skill: Searching for Words
Imagine you are looking for your friend in a big crowd. You don't look at every person. Your eyes move quickly until you find your friend's face.
Scanning1 is like that! It's a reading skill where you search for specific information2, like your name or a familiar word3, without reading everything.
How to Scan
- Know your target. Before you start, know exactly what word you are looking for.
- Move your eyes quickly. Let your eyes move down the list. Don't read every word.
- Stop when you find it! When you see your target word, you can stop. You did it!
Practice Example 1: Find a Name
Your target is the name: Vanna. Scan the class list below to find it.
Class 2A - Student List
- Bopha
- Piseth
- Sokha
- Vanna
- Nary
- Rithy
Answer: Did you find it? It's number 4. See how you didn't need to read all the other names?
Practice Example 2: Find a Place
You want to take a bus to Kampot. Your target is: Kampot. Scan the list of destinations.
Bus Destinations
- Phnom Penh
- Sihanoukville
- Siem Reap
- Kampot
- Kep
- Battambang
Answer: You found it! Now you know the bus goes there.
Your Turn to Practice Scanning!
Practice Quiz 1
A new student is joining the class. Scan the list below to find the name Chanthou.
- Srey
- Veasna
- Chanthou
- Dara
- Sopheap
Answer: Yes, Chanthou is on the list at number 3.
Practice Quiz 2
You are at the market. You need to buy rice. Scan the shopping list to see if it is on the list.
- Fish
- Chili
- Sugar
- Salt
- Mangoes
Answer: No, "rice" is not on this list. You don't need to buy it today. See how fast that was?
Vocabulary Glossary
-
Scanning (noun)
ភាសាខ្មែរ: ជំនាញនៃការអានយ៉ាងរហ័សដើម្បីស្វែងរកពាក្យ ឬព័ត៌មានជាក់លាក់មួយ
The skill of reading very quickly to search for a specific word or piece of information. ↩ back to text -
Specific Information (noun)
ភាសាខ្មែរ: ព័ត៌មានជាក់លាក់
One exact detail, like a name, a date, or a number you are searching for. ↩ back to text -
Familiar Word (noun)
ភាសាខ្មែរ: ពាក្យដែលធ្លាប់ស្គាល់
A word that you already know and can recognize easily. ↩ back to text
Homework Task
Go on a Scan Hunt!
Find a menu from a local restaurant in Kampot (you can ask to see one or find one online).
Your mission is to scan the menu to find these three words:
- rice
- fish
- drink
Tell your teacher if you found them!