PRE-INTERMEDIATE

READING TECHNIQUES
I. PREDICTION
We use information from a text (including titles, headings, pictures, and diagrams) and our personal experiences
to anticipate what they are about to read (or what comes next). By doing this we can identify information that we
may already know about the topic and help us to start creating a context. Without context, comprehension is
much harder.
II. GIST
Gist is the general meaning or purpose of a text, either written or spoken. Reading a text for gist is known
as skimming. Skimming involves reading a longish text or parts of one in order to get the gist (the main idea) of
what it contains. The aim is not to get a detailed understanding but rather an overview of a text that may be
relevant to your enquiry.
 When to use Skimming?
o To quickly review long documents
o To read a long Web page to get an overview of the content.
o When you have lots of material to read in a limited time (emails).
o To check if you find the topic interesting enough to read in detail.
o When you want to survey a text to get a general idea about.
 Strategy
o Read the titles, sub titles, subheading and illustrations.
o Read the first and the last paragraphs and heading and summaries.
o Read the first sentence (topic sentence) of each paragraph.
o Ignore the details and look for the main ideas.
o This reading is at least 3 to 4 times faster than normal speed.
III. INFERRING
It is known as “reading between the lines” where the answer are not explicitly stated. When we infer, we predict
events that can be checked or confirmed as correct or incorrect by reading on or reading to the end of the story.
In a way, inferring means to look back and reflect about what has already been read.
 When to use Inferring
o Poetry, fiction or non-fictional books
o When the idea is not clearly define in the text.
o When trying to define information that is not mention or defining a word.
 Strategy
o Ask yourself a question
o Consider the textual evidence left by the author that may represent clues.
o Think about what you know about the evidence (the background).
o Using the clues and the background, try to answer the questions.
IV. SCANNING
It is used to find a particular piece of information. Run your eyes over the text looking for a specific piece of
information you need. Use scanning on schedules, meeting plans, etc. in order to find specific details you require.
If you use words or phrases that you don’t understand, do not worry when scanning.
 Examples: Articles on newspaper such jobs, today’s news, a train/plane schedule, conference guide.
 When to scan?
o When looking up a word in a directory or dictionary.
o When concentrating on finding a particular answer.
o When looking for a resource to help in answer a question.
o When searching the material for a specific information quickly.
 Strategy
o Read the questions first
o Identify the information you need (in an exam underline the key words of questions)
o Scan the text for the key words or related words with the same meaning
o Underline the phrase or words that have related meaning to the information search
o Read the question and the answer together to check their relation
o For beginner users, you can use different color pencils to identify the questions in the text.