Idea — Intensive reading focuses on a short passage — one paragraph, one exchange — with close attention to language. It is the opposite of skimming: slow, forensic, deliberate. Example — Learners read one paragraph…
Idea — Intensive reading targets exact meaning — argument, grammar, nuance. It is slow and effortful, so reserve it for short, important extracts rather than whole long texts. Example — Unpacking a contract clause word…
Idea — Scanning is fast reading to locate specific information — a name, a date, a figure — without reading everything. The key is knowing exactly what to look for before you start. Example —…
Idea — Scanning means hunting a text for a particular item — a date, a name, a price — while ignoring everything else. The eyes move fast and non-linearly, the opposite of careful reading. Example…
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 —…
Idea — Skimming is fast reading for the overall idea — running the eyes over a text to grasp topic and purpose. It is a survival skill learners rarely practise because school taught slow, total…
Idea — Reading, like listening, combines bottom-up decoding with top-down prediction. Fluent readers do not process every letter; they sample the text and confirm guesses, which is why context matters so much. Example — You…
Idea — Authentic recordings expose learners to real spoken English — speed, overlaps, ellipsis. Graded recordings are clear but artificial. Neither is always right; choose by aim and level. Example — A graded recording at…
Idea — Prediction activates schema and creates a reason to engage. A two-minute lead-in — images, a title, one question — makes the whole listening or reading more efficient. Example — Before playing a news…
Idea — Stage listening from easy to hard: first play for gist, then replay for specific information or detail. Each pass has a different, narrower task, which protects confidence. Example — First listen: "Where are…