Reading is a complex and interactive process involving many different skills and brain functions. To understand what you are reading, you must not only recognize the words on the page, but also relate them to each other, to the context behind them, and to your previous knowledge and experiences. You also need to extract the main idea and details of the text, as well as the author’s purpose, style, and message.
reading comprehension; It can be difficult for many reasons, including unusual vocabulary, complex sentence structures, unclear organization, or lack of interest. However, with some effective strategies, you can improve your reading comprehension over time and make your reading more enjoyable and meaningful.
First of all, what causes this inability to understand what you read?
Lack of interest or motivation
If you’re reading a book that doesn’t appeal to you or that you had to read for some reason, you may not be busy with the text. You may be reading just to finish or to fulfill an obligation. In this case, your mind may wander to what interests you more and you may miss important details of the story.
Distraction or fatigue
If you are reading in a noisy or busy environment, or if you are tired or stressed, you may not be able to focus on the text. External stimuli such as sounds, contacts or notifications on your phone can distract you. Or you may be distracted by inner thoughts such as worries, plans, or memories. In this case, your attention may be distracted from the text and you may lose track of the story.
Difficulty or complexity
If you are reading a book that is too difficult or too complex for your reading skill or knowledge, you may not be able to understand it. You may encounter unfamiliar words, concepts, or references that confuse you. Or you may have trouble following the structure, style, or type of text. In this case, your brain may have difficulty processing information and you may not be able to grasp the meaning of the text.
So what can you do to avoid or overcome this problem of reading without comprehension?
One of the most important strategies to improve your reading comprehension skills is to read actively. Active reading means engaging with and interacting with the text before, during and after reading.
Active reading helps you focus your attention, set a purpose for reading, act on prior knowledge, make predictions, ask questions, monitor your understanding, and review what you have learned.
Active reading also helps you retain more information and remember it better. Here are some ways to practice active reading:
Before reading:
- Know your purpose: Why are you reading this text? What do you want to learn from him? How will you use the information later?
- Knowing your purpose will help you decide how much detail you need to pay attention to and what kinds of questions you need to answer.
- Integrate with previous knowledge: What do you already know about the subject or genre of the text? How does it relate to other texts or topics you read or know about? What personal experiences or opinions do you have regarding this?
- Activating your previous knowledge will help you relate new information to what you already know and make it more relevant and meaningful.
- Preview the text: What can you learn from the title, subheadings, images, subtitles, summaries, or accompanying questions? What do they tell you about the main idea or theme of the text? What do they make you wonder about?
- Previewing the text will help you get a general idea of what to expect and make some predictions about what you will read.
While reading:
- Use context clues: What can you tell from words or sentences around an unfamiliar word or concept? What can you guess from the tone or mood of the text? What conclusions can you draw from the structure or organization of the text?
- Using context clues will help you decipher the meaning of unknown words or ideas without interrupting your reading flow.
- Look for the main idea: What is the author trying to tell you in each paragraph or section of the text? What is the most important point or message they want to give? How do they support it with details or examples?
- Searching for the main idea will help you understand the general meaning and structure of the text.
- Write a summary: How would you describe what you read in your own words? Can you fit that into a sentence or two? Can you identify keywords or phrases that capture the essence of the text?
- Writing a summary will help you check your understanding and remember what you have read.
After reading:
- Divide reading into smaller segments: How much can you read at once without losing focus or interest? How can you break text into manageable chunks that make sense? How can you use breaks to review what you’ve read or prepare for the next step?
- Dividing reading into smaller sections will help you avoid feeling overwhelmed and keep you motivated.
Reading without understanding can be frustrating and discouraging. But with a little practice and dedication, you can overcome this.
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