Teaching and Learning Centers (TLC)
TLC Reading Strategies

Amistades

1.

Recognize cognates p. 37

Some words look alike and mean the same in Spanish and English (popular, final, color). Some are similar but not exact matches. You can easily guess, especially if you say them aloud as they are oral cognates, too (líder, foto, estupendo). Even if you cannot understand everything, recognizing cognates can give you a lot of information about the text.

2.

Use your world knowledge p. 73

Ask yourself what you already know about the topic and what you predict will be in the article. Use cognates to confirm your guess.

3.

Skim the text  p.115

Look quickly at the format and any key words in the title, subheadings or captions. Try to guess at the general idea of the content.

4.

Scan for specific information p. 150

Use strategies 1, 2, 3 before you scan. Then look more carefully for details that confirm your ideas on the meaning of the text.

5.

Guess from clues in the context p. 189

Do not be tempted to look up every word you do not know. Try to guess meaning from context, ideas that surround the unfamiliar word. 

6.

Let word order guide you p. 224

Underline, circle and draw arrows as needed to analyze difficult sentences and pick out subjects, verbs, objects and other referents.

7.

Let grammar clues guide you p. 259

Look at the meaning in "chunks." Look at units of words that work together. Find the verb (action) and subject (who or what does the action) and decide if what you understand makes sense.

8.

Let the organization of the text guide you p. 291

Recognizing the way a text is organized can help you understand.  Is it chronological? (in sequence) Is it categorized? (by use of charts, graphs, headings) Is it argumentative? (taking sides in presenting an idea) Is it descriptive? (May be combined with other types of organization).

9.

Recognize the intent and function of the text p. 330

Is the text literary? (novel, short story, play) technical? (reports, reviews, textbooks, handbooks) correspondence? (personal and business letters, postcards, notes) journalistic? (articles, editorials, ads, weather reports) informational? (dictionaries, guidebooks, timetables, maps) or realia? (tickets, menus, recipes, advertisements). Deciding the function will enhance your comprehension.

10.

Use information from the text p. 365

There are four types of information you often find: definitions, problems and solutions, causes and effects, comparisons and contrasts. Determine which type is given to increase your understanding.

11.

Identify narrative strategies p. 401

In a nutshell, all the strategies you have used thus far are helps to understanding. Review them to be sure you are using them all.

12.

Interpret figurative language p. 440

Metaphor, simile and personification create powerful images that help you see the text in new ways. Look for words like como, parece or semejante a and determine what places persons or things are being compared. Examine their characteristics.

De Paseo

1.

Use what you already know p. 10

Before you begin to read always look at titles, subtitles, captions, illustrations and determine what you already know about the topic based upon what you already. Do not be afraid to predict or guess! Use cognates and familiar vocabulary to guide you as you read.  

2.

Recognize cognates p. 40

English and Spanish share many words that are derived from the same Latin origin. They look alike and their meaning is the same. Sometimes you may have to change a few letters around or remove a prefix or suffix to see the connection. Examples: pirámide, actividad, estadio.

3.

Skim and scan p. 72

Run your eyes quickly over the written material and look at the general layout and design of the page. Glance at the title, photos, drawings, charts, use of blank space to get general clues about the content and purpose. Scanning is like highlighting or underlining words and phrases that help you make sense of the information.

4.

Identify the main idea p. 96

Look for the topic sentence in each paragraph. It may be located anywhere in the text, so read carefully to see what sentence serves to summarize the rest of the paragraph.

5.

Read for detail p. 124

Take the title and turn it into a question. Now you can search the text for answers. Once you have identified the topic, keep asking related questions that will lead you to details. Ask Who? What? When? Where? Why? How? Only use a dictionary for the few words that actually block your understanding.

6.

Determine the function of the text p. 155

Why was the text written? This will tell help you interpret the author's message. Is it to analyze, to advise, to announce, to critique, to review? The title often gives the best clue. As you read confirm your hypothesis by observing vocabulary, style and tone.

7.

Monitor your comprehension as you read p. 182

Stop occasionally when you are reading to consider what you have just understood. Do you agree or disagree with the author's opinion? Can you simply restate the author's point of view? Does it make sense?

8.

Use your background knowledge to infer meaning ("read between the lines") p.213

Use your background knowledge about the type of information you are reading, about the cultural context.  Examine the general content of the writing and make inferences.

9.

Develop cultural understanding p. 239

Examine visuals carefully and look for explanations of them in the text. Note words and phrases that seem to be used in an unfamiliar context. Go to an outside source to expand your background knowledge.