• Teaching Tools
    • Teaching Tools
    • Classroom Management
    • Education Industry
    • Student Assessment Tools
    • Teaching Methods
  • Preschool and Early Ed
    • Preschool and Early Ed
    • Infant Development
    • Parenting Tips and Advice
    • Preschool Crafts and Activities
    • Preschool Lesson Plans and Theme
    • Preschool Teaching Strategies
    • Toddler Activities and Ideas
  • Elementary School
    • Elementary School
    • Grade School Activities
    • Lesson Plans for Pre-K and K
    • Lesson Plans: Grades 1 - 2
    • Lesson Plans: Grades 3 - 5
    • Parenting Grade Schoolers
    • Teaching Younger Students
  • Middle School
    • Middle School
    • English Lessons: Grades 6-8
    • History Lessons: Grades 6-8
    • Math Lessons: Grades 6-8
    • Parenting Preteens and Tweens
    • Science Lessons: Grades 6-8
    • Social Studies: Grades 6-8
    • Teaching Middle Schoolers
    • The Arts: Grades 6-8
  • More
    • High School(7)
    • Homework Help(20)
    • Special Ed(11)
    • More Areas(4)
More
High School (7)
Homework Help (20)
Special Ed (11)
More Areas (4)
English Lessons: Grades 9-12
High School Teaching Tips
History Lessons: Grades 9-12
Math Lessons: Grades 9-12
Parenting Teens
Science Lessons: Grades 9-12
The Arts: Grades 9-12
English Help
Geography Facts
Help with German
Help with Latin
Help with Writing
History Help
Language Learning Strategies
Learning Chinese
Learning French
Learning Italian
Learning Japanese
Learning Spanish
Literature Study Guides
Math Facts
Miscellaneous Languages
Science Homework Help
Science Projects
Social Studies Help
Study and Learning Tips
Test Preparation
Behavioral Disorders
Gifted and Exceptional St...
Hearing Impairments
IDEA, IEPs and The Law
Inclusion Strategies
Learning Disorders
Neurological Disorders
Physical Disabilities
Special Ed: Parent Perspe...
Speech Disorders
Visual Impairments
Homeschooling Advice
Summer Learning
Teaching a Second Language
Teaching ESL Learners
Bright Hub Education

Bright Hub Education

    Skip to content
    768

    How To Improve ESL Reading Comprehension

    ESL Teaching Tips & Strategies for Any Grade Level / By Audrey Alleyne / Teaching English as a Second Language

    Start With Simple Texts

    The teacher should choose very simple texts to assist intermediate or beginner students who are struggling with ESL reading comprehension. A person learning a second language is like a baby learning his first language. The learner needs to listen to the sounds of the language, and learn and understand vocabulary before being able to reading and comprehend texts. Before asking the student to answer comprehension questions, the teacher should take the initial step of reading aloud various texts for students, while stopping at certain points, pointing out vocabulary including individual words, phrases and idioms and discussing their meanings with students.

    Strategies for Teachers

    The following simple strategies should help teachers to improve ESL reading skills among their students.

    • Basic English grammar and acquisition of vocabulary are important tools towards the students’ reading comprehension. Before introducing students to reading comprehension, ensure that they understand English words and can associate meanings with the words.
    • Set the pattern for students to follow. In the introductory reading lesson, read a simple passage from a school textbook, fiction or non-fiction book. Students should be provided with copies of the text being read, so they could follow along; however, reserve magazines and newspapers for when students reach an advanced level.
    • While reading the first passage, stop at certain points and explain what you have read. Explain the author’s purpose before, during, and after reading the passage. Ensure that students are familiar with the vocabulary and give them the meanings of words or expressions, which are new to them.
    • Now, it is the students’ turn. Provide them with a text, which they will take turns at reading. Indicate written prompts at certain points in sections or paragraphs where they should stop to discuss what they have read and understood. These prompts would help students to begin expressing their thoughts. Some of these prompts might include: I think…; I noticed…; I like the part where…; I don’t believe/think…" Before beginning the lesson, students should acquaint or re-acquaint themselves with these expressions.
    • Ask them meaningful questions about the content of the passage and the author’s purpose.
    • Allow the class to engage in discussion after each passage read by each student.

    Strategies for Students

    The following strategies are meant to assist ESL students in improving their reading skills on their own.

    • Review each paragraph after reading it. If you are confused, find the topic sentence, again.
    • Look for transitional words, phrases and paragraphs, which change the topic.
    • Read the first and last paragraph of your text or the first sentence in each section.
    • Monitor if you have missed an idea, backup and reread.
    • Pay attention to vocabulary. Collect new words in a notebook especially for that purpose. Look up the new word in a dictionary and study its meaning. Try to fit the right synonym into context of the sentence. It is a good idea to learn the antonym of the word at the same time. Reading for vocabulary is very important in improving your reading comprehension.
    • When you are building your vocabulary, concentrate on roots, prefixes and endings. This will help you tremendously to recognize new words you will come across.
    • Ask yourself questions about each paragraph. Write the answers down in a notebook.
    • Move ahead on your own, reading as much as possible in the new language. Broaden your background knowledge by reading as many magazines, newspapers and books that you possibly can.
    • Get together with classmates and discuss reading material. This is a great way to improve comprehension.

    Teacher Assessment and Student Self -Assessment

    Teacher assessment of intermediate and advanced beginner students and students’ self-assessment should be done on a regular basis. Teachers should assess whether or not students can understand the purpose and main meaning of short simple texts, simple instructions such as those in their textbooks; and simple everyday material like advertisements and timetables. Students should perform self-assessments to determine if they can understand isolated words and phrases in texts that come before them for the first time as well as if they can understand signs, menus and very short, simple written descriptions of familiar persons, places and things.

    Summary

    Even native speakers of English have difficulty in understanding texts at times. In addition, native speakers of English engage in a life-long process of learning new words. This process is even more important for the student of English as a second language. The strategies listed in this article are beneficial to both students and teachers alike. To improve ESL reading comprehension, the ESL student should motivate him or herself to keep working diligently, as well as ask for assistance from the teacher if problems continue to confront him or her.

    References

    • Interagency Language Roundtable: Reading Self Assessment – http://www.govtilr.org/Publications/readingsa.html

    Post navigation

    ← Previous Post
    Next Post →
    Copyright © 2019 Bright Hub Education. All Rights Reserved.
    About | Copyright Policy | Privacy Policy | Terms of Use

    Search

    Popular Pages

    • Home

    More Info

    Recent

    • Teaching ELL Students the English Language Using the SIOP Learning Method
    • Tips on How to Learn English Faster: Advice for ESL Students
    • The Difference Between ESL and EFL: Teaching English
    • Challenges of Teaching English Pronunciation to ESL Students
    • Four ESL Communication Games for Teaching English
    • ESL Tongue Twisters: Practicing Pronunciation

    Get in touch

    • Twitter
    • Facebook
    • Google+
    © brighthubeducation.com. All rights reserved.
    • Privacy Policy