Reading Comprehension Skills

Introduction

Reading is a necessary skill in today’s world. You will probably need to read material such as bills and letters. Depending on your choice of employment, you may need to read simple directions or you may need to read complicated reports. There are other reasons for reading. Some people read stories for enjoyment; while others enjoy reading educational books for self-improvement. Regardless of your motivation for reading, you need to have some basic skills and some basic tools.

Reading is a form of communication. When two people communicate by talking, they need to use their communication skills. They need to understand what is said, remember what is said, and respond to what is said. Similarly, readers need to understand what is written, remember what is written, and respond to what is written. Because reading involves a number of skills, they can be learned, practiced, and improved.

Like other communication skills, reading becomes easier, more productive, and more enjoyable with practice. Beginning readers often find reading slow. There are many reasons for this. Some reasons include: having a small vocabulary, reading aloud, and lacking knowledge about how to read. Experienced readers are able to understand the meaning of many words, to read silently most of the time, and to use several reading strategies efficiently.

In addition to learning the strategies in this section, one of your goals should be to increase your vocabulary. This means increasing the number of words you are able to recognize and use. The best way to increase your vocabulary is by reading regularly and by reading different types of materials.