Some assumptions about the nature of reading 1. We need to perceive and decode letters in order to read words. 2. We need to understand all the words in order to understand the meaning of a text. 3. The more symbols (letters or words) there are in a text, the longer it will take to read it. 4. We gather meaning from what we read. 5. Our understanding of a text comes from understanding the words of which it is composed.

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HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE YOU TO READ? 1. X P T A Q E W T 2. jam hot pin call did tap son tick 3. How quickly can you read and understand this?

READ QUICKLY The handsome knight mounted his horse, and galloped off to save the beautiful princess. On and on, over mountains and valleys, until his galloping house was exhausted. At last he dismounted.... Where was the dragon?

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SOME QUESTIONS ABOUT BEGINNING READING Should I teach my students only orally for a while, so that they have basic oral proficiency in the foreign language before tackling reading? Or start reading and writing from the beginning? Should I teach them single letters, and gradually build these up into words? Or should I teach the written form of meaningful words first, letting them come to the different component letters by analysis later? If I decide to teach single letters, should I teach them by name first, or by (usual) sound? If there are various forms to each letter (such as the upper and lower-case forms in the Roman alphabet, the beginning, middle and end forms in Arabic), at what stage should I teach each? At what stage should I teach the conventional order of the alphabet?

COMPREHENSION TEXT AND QUESTIONS (1) READ THE TEXT AND ANSWER THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS. Yesterday I saw the palgish flester gollining begrunt the bruck. He seemed very chanderbil, so I did not jorter him, just deapled to him quistly. Perhaps late he will besand cander, and I will be able to rangel to him. What was the flester doing and where? What sort of flester was he? Why did the writer decide not to jorter him? How did she deaple? What did she hope would happen later?

COMPREHENSION TEXT AND QUESTIONS (2) READ THE TEXT AND ANSWER THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS Yesterday I saw the new patient hurrying along the corridor. He seemed very upset, so I did not follow him, just called to him gently. Perhaps later he will feel better, and I will be able to talk to him. What is the problem described here? Is the event taking place indoors or outside? Did the writer try to get near the patient? What do you think she said when she called to him? What might the job of the writer be? Why do you think she wants to talk to the patient?

QUESTIONS GIVEN BEFORE THE TEXT Read the questions and guess what the answers are going to be. Later, you’ll be given the text and you’ll be able to check how many you got right. Where was Jane walking? What did she hear behind her? What was her necklace made of? What did the thief steal (two things)? What did he do next?

As Jane was walking down the street, she heard someone walking quietly behind her. She began to feel afraid. Suddenly a large hand touched her neck: her gold necklace broke and disappeared. In another minute her bag too was gone, and the thief was running away.