READING COMPREHENSION STRATEGIES

WORKSHOP
Learning Outcome
You will be able to use a wide range of reading comprehension strategies to link to previous knowledge and
to enhance the reading comprehension ability from simple to more complex processes (A1-B2).
ACTIVITY 1

Answer the following questions:

1. Have you ever had the experience of reading a text but not remembering what you have just read.
2. Why is reading comprehension important?
3. What reading comprehension strategies do you know?
4. Which strategy is the most powerful to you? Why?

ACTIVITY 2

Match the reading comprehension strategies to their definition.

1. PREDICTING a) They, also known as transition words or linking words, are words or phrases used to connect
and organize ideas within a text. They help readers follow the flow of information and
understand the logical relationships between sentences and paragraphs. Examples of
connectors include "therefore," "however," "in addition," "for example," and "on the other
hand."
2. SKIMMING b) It is a reading strategy that involves searching a text for specific information or details.
Instead of reading the entire text, the reader scans for keywords, phrases, or specific pieces of
information that are needed. It is particularly useful when looking for answers to specific
questions or when trying to locate particular facts within a text.
3. SCANNING c) These are words or phrases within a text that refer back to something previously mentioned
in the text. These words help establish connections and clarify relationships between different
parts of the text. These words include pronouns (he, she, it, they), demonstratives (this, that,
these, those).

4. REFERENCE d) It is the process of drawing conclusions or making inferences based on information provided
WORDS in the text. Readers use context clues, background knowledge, and explicit details to make
inferences about characters, events, or the author's intentions

5. CONNECTORS e) It is a reading strategy where the reader quickly glances over the text to get a general sense
of its content without reading every word. The goal of skimming is to identify key information,
such as the main ideas, headings, and keywords, while ignoring less important details.

6. INFERRING f) It involves making educated guesses about what might happen next in the text based on
prior knowledge and clues from the text. It helps readers engage with the material and
anticipate the direction of the content.
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Reading for a purpose
Types of texts

 The narrative text

 Goal: To tell a story
 The persuasive text.
 Goal: To try to convince the audience
 The descriptive text
 Goal: To describe something
 The expository or explanatory text
 Goal: To give information or explains something

Sources of Information

 Magazines  Textbooks

 Encyclopedia  Catalog

 Dictionary  Short stories

 Newspaper  Books

 Handbook  Comics

ACTIVITY 1: Using the table below, identify the possible source, and its goal or purpose of the texts
presented.

TYPE OF TEXT SOURCE PURPOSE

1. Mac Donald’s To

2. Orchid To

3. BBC

4. HP Company

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ACTIVITY 2: Write the purpose of the following texts.

Sources of Information Purpose

Paper
Order
Service contract
Thesis
Case study
Invoice
Nursing / Nutrition care plans

EXTENSION: Think of other types of texts used in your discipline and write their goals or purpose.

Sources of information in my discipline Purpose

1.

2.

3.

4.

COGNATES
Cognates are words in two languages that share a similar meaning, spelling, but with different
pronunciation. For example:

SKILLS AND QUALITIES

ENGLISH SPANISH
Motivation Motivación
Supervision Supervisión
Future Futuro
Independence Independencia
Experience Experiencia
Enthusiasm Entusiasmo
WL4-Unit 2. P.23

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TRUE COGNATES
ACTIVITY 3: Read the first paragraph of the text “Blood, Sweat, and Sequins on p. 25 (WL4) Write the
Spanish equivalent for the following words.

ENGLISH SPANISH
Series
Photographs
Music
Act
Different
Offered

ACTIVITY 4: True Cognates. Read the following text and write a list of the true cognates.

World Link 4. Workbook

FALSE COGNATES

False cognates are words which have similar sound in two languages but their meaning is different.
Example: College

To advertise Eventually
To attend Argument
To attempt Commodity
To realice Success
Actual Assessor
Actually Facility
Agenda Large
Actions Estimate
Exit Support
Introduce Ultimately
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 ACTIVITY 5: Analyze the words in boldface (negrilla) and translate them into Spanish. Then translate
the whole sentence. Use the dictionary if necessary.

ENGLISH VERSIÓN SPANISH EQUIVALENCE

He has retired, but he is the actual leader. Él se jubiló, pero es el líder real.
He is actually not the manager
Tom was dismissed without notice
The art of pleasing is the art of deception
They are sensible girls
Central banks are responsible for implementing monetary
policy, i.e. controlling or attempting to control the money
supply (and consequently inflation) and interest rates

ACTIVITY 6: Choose the correct cognate to each sentence

1. Did you know that Chrissie got ________________ (embarrassed/pregnant) on holiday in Ibiza?
2. The manger is a very ________________ (kind /sympathetic) person.
3. I couldn't agree more. That's a very ________________ (sensible/sensitive) idea.
4. How many ________________ (idioms/languages) can you speak?
5. ________________ (Actually/Nowadays) I'm living with my parents again.
6. The poor live in the ________________ (slums/suburbs).
7. The police came to my ________________ (assistance/attendance).

Types of Vocabulary:

Structural: General: Specific:

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ACTIVITY 6: Make a list of words related to logistics you can think of.

SKIMMING AND SCANNING

Skimming is a reading strategy where the readers need to run through a text, identifying keywords and phrases
for an overall understanding of the text’s content. They don’t need to read every line when skimming a text.
Unknown vocabulary is irrelevant. Skip it.

ACTIVITY 7: Read the following text quickly and don’t pay too much attention to difficult sections or
vocabulary.
What is the main idea of the text? You need to use your own words. Be short and sweet!
______________________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________________

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SCANNING

Scanning a text is a reading technique where the reader looks for specific information rather than trying to absorb
all the information. If you're reading a brochure, say, you want specific information usually and so look for
something that is convenient for your journey plans.

ACTIVITY 8: Scan the text and answer the following questions

1. What is a non-profit organization?

2. Why do people start non-profit organizations?

3. What do Marilyn Price, Chad Bernstein, and Adarsh Alphons have in common?

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Activity 9:

REFERENCE WORDS

Reference words (words that refer back to a previous word or phrase but without repeating it) are very common
many reading texts. These words include pronouns (he, she, it, they), demonstratives (this, that, these, those). See
the chart below.

What do the following words refer to?

People age 10 -17 years old
1. Them (P2 L4) refers to ___________________________
Youngsters
2. Their (P2 L6) refers to ___________________________
Chad Bernstein
3. His (P3 L3) refers to ____________________________

Activity 10:

LOGICAL CONNECTION: Connectors

Connectors are words or short phrases that link two ideas or statements together across different sentences or
paragraphs. Connectors also known as conjunctions or linkers help define the relationship between them and can
add a rich layer of meaning.

There are different types logical relationships.

Addition: moreover, in addition, furthermore and besides, and, etc.
Cause and effect: because, since, due to, therefore, thus, hence
Comparing: likewise, in the same way and similarly
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 Contrast: alternatively, on the other hand, conversely and nevertheless, however, yet, but, etc.
Emphasis: In fact, Indeed, Actually
Exemplification: for example, for instance, such as, e.g.
Time-sequence: first, next, then, after that, finally, while, before, after, etc.
Summarizing: In summary, In conclusion, To sum up, To summarize, Briefly, In short, For all these reasons, This
shows / indicates that, on the whole, overall

Complete the following chart

Connector Logical Relationship Idea 1 Idea 2

1. Yet (P1 L2)
2. While (P3 L1)