Reading for Comprehension
Reading is a process that involves identifying read letters, then words, then eventually phrases . Reading for comprehension is the final stage of understanding concepts . if you struggle to read and understand difficult books, then you need to improve your comprehension ability.
How to improve your Comprehension Skills
1 . Look for/at the title of what you are reading.
In case you're reading a short piece , look at the overall title, or better still look at the sub-headings or chapter titles. Reflect on what the title suggests the work will be about. Look at any pictures, clues or graphical data and begin to build a picture n your mind about the content of the work.
2 . Rephrase the title of the work to form a question.
Let's say you reading on "Common Cause of Examination Malpractices among Students," rephrase this as " What are the Common Causes of Examination Malpractices among Student ?" You can then approach the question, trying to determine the answer to a given question.
3 . Skim through a a paragraph or a short section of text.
At the end, think about what the paragraph meant , and whether you understood it . if not, reread it. Howevee, do not worry about individual words or phrases, but try and understand overall meaning.
4 . Look for key words.
If you are reading "Common Causes of Examination Malpractices among students" to produce a paper , look for key words like "Causes" and "Malpractice" in the test . Your brain will find these words quickly , and you will be able to read key sections of the text.
Effective Listening Skills
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Listening is the process of receiving , constructing meaning from, and responding to spoken or non verbal messages. Without a doubt , listening is an activity that most students are not really taught how to do effectively . Listening is as important, maybe even more important than speaking.
Without proper listening skills , it is difficult to comprehend,assimilate or communicate effectively with others.
Barriers to Effective Listening
- Daydreaming
- Side Talk
- Lack of interest
- Negative Reaction to the Lecturer's Appearance or Delivery Style
- Pinging, Chatting,Listening to music or Fondling with Gadgets
Tips to Your Improve Listening Skills
When it's your turn to listen:
Stop talking ! people cannot talk and listen at the same time, it does not work ! it must be one at at a time.Identify with the Teacher:
This means putting yourself in the teacher's place. Try to really understand the teacher's view point.Ask Questions:
Asking questions does two things. First, it fuels your own interest level. If you are in the presence of a good teacher, meaningful questions should bring you some significant added information on the subject . Second , your questions may encourage the teacher to expand on the topic of the discussion. But be careful not to ask too many questions. This could be make you look like you are trying to dominate the class; other members in the audience may become irritated.Concentrate:
Focus all of your attention on the speaker and the message being delivered. Being able to concentrate is definitely a skill-- one that all students need to succeed.Eliminate distractions:
Avoid fidgeting with pens, notebooks, or other stuff. Typically etiquette dictates that people should not enter or leave the room after the speaker has started speaking. This practices may vary depending on the locale and situation.
