From instruction manuals and cookbooks, to articles and social media, our lives are surrounded by words. Therefore, the ability to understand and comprehend what you are reading is one of the most important skills anyone can learn. However, like any skill, it’s not an automatic ability. It is for this very reason that reading comprehension is stressed so heavily in English class for it is the only way to actually have a lasting impact on kids, much to many students’ dismay.
As mentioned before, the skill of properly reading and comprehending texts is a complicated process. However, it is a necessary skill to master, both for work and for pleasure. In both the basic, literal level and on a more in-depth level, you will need to read and interpret all kinds of different texts throughout your schooling, in college and in the working world (as well as just in your recreation time)! If we define “reading” just as a literal or surface understanding of a piece and “reading comprehension” as the complete understanding, people can only get by in the world on pure “reading” for so long.
Over the years, it’s easy to pinpoint the locations where students most struggle with this seemingly elusive trait. Whether it’s because they miss or skip over the important ideas, prefer a different learning style, or simply don’t enjoy reading as a whole, it creates a mindset in students that either you are good at reading comprehension or you aren’t; nothing in between. Now, while it is true that some people find the skill easier than others, that in no way means that one cannot get better at reading comprehension. Like any skill, it requires a mix of practice and patience, as well as some tips to help along the way.
In that case, what are the firsts steps to improving reading comprehension?
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Reevaluate how you are currently reading
Before you can start improving your reading comprehension, you must first understand how you are currently reading and be made aware of the limitations. You can start with excerpts from source material that you are less familiar with, such as textbooks, news articles, or really just any kind of text that you struggle to understand. Read them as you normally would, and then pinpoint the specific time that your concentration, energy, or understanding of the content starts to lag. This way, you can slowly build up stamina by reading for slightly longer periods every time. Instead of forcing yourself to sit for hours, you can start small and then build yourself up. It’s important to note that improvement comes with time, so if your concentration is lagging, just take a step back before pushing yourself more.
Alternatively, the main issue could have less to do with the time spent reading and instead, with the source material itself. In that case,
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Improve your vocabulary
Vocabulary, context, and the interaction of words are the three main aspects of reading comprehension. So, you must be able to understand each moving piece before you can understand the text as a whole. If you struggle to understand specific vocabulary, it can be difficult to understand even with context clues. As you read, make sure to keep a running list of words you don’t readily recognize and make yourself a set of flashcards with the words and their definitions. If you dedicate some time to practicing these flashcards a few times a week, the new vocabulary will come easily.
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Read for fun
The greatest way to improve is just through practice. Of course, the best way to practice is to have some fun with it. Instead of making reading a constant chore, make reading a fun activity. This way, it will motivate one to engage with the text and embrace the activity as part of your daily life, as opposed to part of your work life. The more you practice and engage with the material, improvement will come naturally. You can always begin with reading texts that are slightly below your grade/age level (especially if reading is more of a frustrating or boring activity for you), and this will take pressure off of you and allow you to relax and enjoy the story. Eventually, when you get comfortable with reading comprehension strategies, you can read at whatever age level you like. Even if you don’t understand some of the texts right now, if you enjoy yourself and give it your best shot, you’ll find that your reading comprehension levels will improve over time.
Improving this skill takes time and effort, but it can be done. The most important thing is to be patient with yourself while using the reading comprehension steps, and don’t get frustrated with ‘falling behind.’ In every piece of literature, there are useful worlds of meaning you can explore at your own behest, and learning them is always a rewarding experience.
I might do a part 2 for actual tips and tricks, but that is all for now.
