What specific strategies can improve reading skills?
In trying to develop reading skills, there are four key areas which students should try to improve: understanding, flexibility, speed and comprehension. Greater understanding comes through more active involvement in the text. It is imperative to examine the text analytically-whether autobiography, academic essay or newspaper article. Increased flexibility from not slavishly following the linear order of the text, but by adapting your reading strategies accordingly (e.g., reading the conclusion first).Turning to the issue of speed, focusing on the content-carrying words of the language, and reading in cluster of words (i.e., two-,three-and four-word phrases) can be beneficial. Finally, greater comprehension can be realized by focusing more on your prediction skills and your general understanding of the English language, and less time on your electronic dictionary.
Unit II
The Global Language
Task 1:
Read an extract from David Crystal’s well-known book “English as a Global Language” Translate it into Russian.