ESL Teaching - Developing Students Reading Skills

For students to be able to tackle exams effectivelyprint. Be enthusiastic about reading and it will rub off
it is essential they have good reading skills. This articleon the students. If they enjoy reading with their
offers teachers some tips for improving theirteacher there is more chance of them pursuing the
students reading.activity outside the classroom.
There are many factors that determine when3) Phonics - Use rhymes and chants with the
students should start learning to read in their secondstudents to sound out letters and words.
language. How much can they read in their first4) Sight words - Have them read out words that
language? How much English do they already know?cannot be sounded out. Use words that they are
Are they interested and enthusiastic to learn? Usuallyalready familiar to their ears.
once they gain an ability to read in their first5) Comprehension - Practice doing reading
language, they can begin to grasp basic reading skillscomprehensions with the students. These help to
in the second language.make the reading purposeful and meaningful.
What are the tips for teaching reading to students?6) Preparation - Prepare the students for reading by
1) Classroom decoration - Decorate the classroommotivating and engaging their interest before starting.
with plenty of English words. Label classroom objects7) Storybooks - Encourage students to read
and put up posters with big words, such as the 'daysstorybooks they enjoy. Have a good library stocked
of the week' and 'months'.with books they can read for pleasure.
2) Read - Have students read along with you,8) Writing - Students will benefit from writing about
following the words in their book,with their fingers.what they read. Encourage them to write book
This helps them to get familiar with English words inreviews and develop critical reading skills.