Reading For Understanding

What are you doing this moment? Yes, you are reading. Reading has certainly become part of our daily activities. We read when on the bus, when walking and even when about to take a nap. So, what is reading?
Reading, simply, is to construct meaning out of a text. When we read we try to develop  an interaction between the text and ourselves. In other words, reading is a conversation between the reader and the text( or the writer).
We read several material everyday. Why do we this? Now, depending upon your objective for picking up some literature, we find out more from the text. Nonetheless, many a time, we read a text for hours on end without constructing any meaning from it. Why? The next section talks about reading habits.

Predispositions brought to the reading process.

• I  like to read only at specific times of the day.
• I  prefer  reading magazines, newspapers, manuals, articles , to voluminous books which scare me away.
• I read at different speeds at different times.
• I can read at any place at any time of the day.
• I read every material a the same speed.

If you possess all the characteristics mentioned above, you have poor reading habits. On the other hand, if you agree with the first and the third, then you are on the right track.

When you begin reading, your thought processes automatically fish out for previous knowledge of the thesis( the writer's main idea). You bring on board so many of you r previous encounter s and experiences with that particular topic. Thus you make comments when reading. Comments such as nodding( for agreement), shaking your head( for disapproval) and sometimes, speaking aloud. In a nutshell, reading a a process of interacting with the text.

Reading is an integral part of life.

Avoid the following habits in your quest to become a better(faster) and more efficient reader:

• Whispering the words to yourself as you read.
• Mentioning the words aloud as you read. You can do this, however, if you are developing your fluency.
• Reading word by word from the text. This entirely slows the reading process down.

One very important thing you ought to know is that you have to read words in their natural groups. Look at this:

It is important

to read words 

in their natural groups.

METHODS TO ADOPT TO UNDERSTAND THE TEXT YOU READ.

Many of us sit down for so may hours in the name of reading without taking anything away from the text. It's not supposed to be so. When you read, you must first of all, get a gist of what you are reading. Then,as you read, get into the mood of the text; determine your compatibility with the text. Finally, make some notes. 

I have  listed three points above. If you do not read consciously, you wont get them. Read with a pen(cil), notepad or index card, your head and the text. These four are indispensable tools for efficient reading. Why?

(To be continued)