5 essential techniques for reading English efficiently

Hi everyone~ I'm Shuo Lee, a teacher at Zishen Empire (字神帝國)! Whatever study-abroad test you're preparing for, you can't get away from reading long passages. And even if you don't need to take any tests, a master's or PhD will definitely have you reading lots of long journal articles.

Most people know that reading requires “Active Reading” so the text doesn't lead you by the nose. But what exactly is active / efficient reading? What reading techniques does it take? This post helps you check whether you're an efficient reader!

▍Technique 1: Predict & Check

When we get an article, we usually look at the main title and outline first, then use our existing background knowledge to predict what the article will cover. We also use subheadings and topic sentences to predict where each paragraph is likely to go.

As we read further, we search for key information such as words related to the topic (title) and transition words to check our predictions. If a prediction is off, we correct it as we read. Predicting helps us read in a more targeted way and grasp the content of the article.

▍Technique 2: Skim & Scan

Skimming aims to quickly understand the main idea and grasp the backbone of the text. While skimming, we immediately distinguish big-picture information from details and focus on the former, so we often concentrate on the first sentence / topic sentence of each paragraph (though not every time).

After skimming, we have a rough outline of the article. If we want to go back for specific information, it's quicker: we just scan the text (that is, scanning) and can soon locate the information we need.

▍Technique 3: Fill in Gaps

When we have to read fast, we need to keep telling ourselves that not understanding some content or a word is completely normal. We can still use context clues or background knowledge to make some inferences and fill the gaps in our understanding.

Once this becomes a reading habit, it not only sharpens our sensitivity to context but also helps us keep our reading pace, so we don't freeze the moment we hit something we don't understand.

▍Technique 4: Paraphrase & Simplify

Our working memory is limited. Faced with the complex sentences or concepts in an article, if we really try to swallow it word by word, we may not be able to digest it. So after reading a long sentence or paragraph, we need to immediately grasp its core content and condense it into a few words or one simple sentence, so we don't forget the information right after reading it.

And because we've reworked complex content by paraphrasing or simplifying it in our own words, our understanding of the article becomes more solid.

▍Technique 5: Detect Text Structure

The order of sentences and of paragraphs carries meaning. We should look closely at how these sentences and paragraphs are organized. What transition words (like however) or specific words (like difference) appear? And what author's purpose (like contrasting two things) does this way of organizing the text reveal?

Understanding text structure lets us pick out the article's main thread and flow effectively, so we don't end up missing the forest for the trees.

Are you an efficient reader? Test yourself with these 5 techniques! Master these 5 reading techniques and you'll sail through study-abroad tests and graduate studies!

For more on English learning and study-abroad trends, follow my Instagram (@shuoleegre) and Dcard (李碩 GRE), and join my IG broadcast channel so you never miss test news!

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