ELT365 · Day 162 — Skimming: reading fast for the big picture

Idea — Skimming is fast reading for global meaning — what is this text about, what is the writer’s position. Learners skim by reading the first sentence of each paragraph and the conclusion.

Example — Give learners 90 seconds to skim a 400-word article. Ask: ‘Is the writer for or against X?’ They should be able to answer without reading every word.

Try — Set a timer for 60 seconds. Hand learners a new text. Timer starts. They skim. When time is up, ask one gist question. The constraint builds the habit.

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