reading skills ( from http://chake.chinatefl.com/99/reading.html )
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Reading's Role in Learning English
When I was in middle school, my English was just so-so. In this period
of time, I endeavored to improve math, physics, etc., leaving little
time for English.
After I entered the university English department, I found most of my
classmates had read a lot of things before they entered university. So
I felt nervous, worrying I could not catch up with them. Meanwhile, our
extensive reading teacher required us to read a classical novel and
write a journal (post-reading notes) every two weeks. That's when I
began to touch my own English world.
At first I felt it difficult for me to read through the novels, as my
vocabulary was so small. There were so many new words, impelling me to
get the very detail. However, after a period of training, I found my
English improved a lot. The most obvious improvement was that I
didn’t need to consult the dictionary too often to slow down my
reading.
Later, I began to read 21st-Century, English World and other newspapers
and magazines. I found it an effective way to improve my English.
Firstly, my vocabulary became larger and larger. I read very
extensively, which enables me to touch all kinds of materials, from
Shakespeare to Pentagon; from fossils to the market economy, etc.
Secondly, useful information was involved in these medias. Through
this, I know a lot about the system of the American presidency and the
benefits of China entering the WTO.
Thirdly, during the period of improving English, I entertained myself.
I like reading fiction, and reading English fiction has almost the same
entertainment value as reading Chinese ones; however at the same time
it enriches my English knowledge.
Reading really plays an important role in my English study. I will
continue this good way of learning English.
- Annabel (Bu Hongxia) -
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Reading Like a Robot
Last winter I went to the GRE class of New Oriental School for 20 days
and found my reading level was far from that required in GRE. I simply
could not understand the reading materials and answered most questions
incorrectly. But 5 months later, I did well in the pre-test and finally
scored 750 in the verbal section of GRE.
You may wonder how I made such a great improvement. I think this was
largely due to the mechanical training during the last period of my
preparation for GRE. According to my schedule, I had to do all the
reading exercises in 8 days, which normally would have taken at least
half a month. If not, I would ran out of time. So I skipped most of the
classes, got up at 8'o clock in the morning every day, turned on my
computer and began to read until 11 o'clock in the evening. The only
breaks were for meals and a nap after lunch.
I worked like a robot and my brain was extremely tired. But at that
state, I soon found I answered the questions correctly and I understood
those abstruse articles. My previous work of memorizing vocabulary and
reading provided me a solid foundation, while that exhaustive process
finally did the work.
- Monica -
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Reading for Relaxation
To me, English is just a tool. I began to learn it when I was a middle
school student. But I never succeeded in getting the highest score in
my class, which made me think that I had no talent in learning English.
But in order to enter the university , I didn’t give up.
Nevertheless, one thing changed my view to English. It is no longer
just a tool.
One day, I was doing my homework hard. There was so much work to do
that I almost wanted to copy others. Just then, a chemistry question
baffled me. The harder I tried, the less confidence I had. At last, I
totally gave up, not even willing to copy others’ work. Then, I took
up an English short story and started to read it. A few minutes later,
an answer to that chemistry question, unexpectedly, came to mind. I
felt so happy that I jotted it down at once.
Ever since then I have a habit of reading English short stories when I
come across difficult questions or feel tired after a long time doing
homework. Now, to me, English is a way of relaxation.
- Hannan -
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Speed Reading
It was in my freshman year that reading posed a big obstacle in my
English study. I tried many ways to improve it, but I lacked the
strong motive to finish reading as quickly as possible. One day a novel
by Agatha Christie caught my eye.
I started reading it. Other English novels are always difficult and
unfriendly for beginners, but Christie's are simple and
attention-grabbing. I couldn't wait to know who was the real murderer,
so I had to continue reading, and more importantly, had to speed up in
order to feed my curiosity.
A 110-page novel was finished in two days - a fantastic speed I had
never dreamt of. By continuing to read Agatha Christie, my speed and
interest improved immensely. Therefore, I realized that personal
interest is the best place to start.