Reading activities and strategies

A reading task can be divided into 3 phases.

Before Reading
・Students activate prior knowledge (schema)
・Students develop motivation to read
・Students try to predict the subject matter of the text
・Students check the keywords/vocabulary

Reading
・Scanning
・Skimming
・Inference

After Reading
・Understanding
・Extension Activities

These are the original teaching materials created by The Japan Foundation, Sydney referring to the sites below.

①TOKYO SHOKO RESEARCH, LTD.　20190411
https://www.tsr-net.co.jp/news/analysis/20190411_01.html

②TOKYO SHOKO RESEARCH, LTD.20190401
https://www.tsr-net.co.jp/news/analysis/20190401_01.html

③jiji.com 20190410
https://www.jiji.com/jc/article?k=2019041001198&g=eco&utm_source=jijicom&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=jijicom_auto_aja

④NHK Web Easy News　20190429
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/news/easy/k10011880071000/k10011880071000.html

Students activate prior knowledge (schema)
Using information in English, students expand their existing knowledge of the background to the text.

Students develop motivation to read
Using textual and visual information students connect the knowledge to their personal experiences/interests to spark their curiosity.

Students try to predict the subject matter of the text
Students try to predict what the text is about from the title/headline of the article.

Students check the keywords/vocabulary
Students check the vocabulary that appear in the text.

Skimming　
Students apply the strategy of skimming which involves quickly reading a text to get a general idea of what it is about.

Scanning
Students scan the text to seek out specific information.

Inference
Students try to guess the meaning of unknown words and expressions.

Understanding
Students check their understanding of the content and language of the article.

Extension Activities
Students complete activities that flow from the understanding of the article.