Reading is always an essential skill to develop when learning English online. However,
different situations would call for other reading techniques. Sometimes, our reading goals would also
dictate the kind of reading we need to do.
Techniques of reading: Skimming and Scanning
Skimming
Skimming is a speed-reading technique used whenever we need to get the entire text‟s main
idea. When you skim a text, you are not after the details or examples given, but rather, you are looking
at what the whole text is all about.We typically skim long texts for us to get a better idea of the entire
chapter or article. Skimming is especially helpful whenever we need to read long texts in a short
period of time. When learning English online, we usually skim different texts as part of our classes.
Scanning
Scanning is another speed-reading technique that is useful for people who are learning English
online. When we can, we read a text quickly to search for specific information or answer a particular
question. When scanning, we disregard the other details in the text and its main idea, which is not part
of our goal.An excellent example of scanning texts is whenever we need to look up the meaning of a
word in the dictionary. When we do, we don‟t have to go through the other words in the text to locate
the definition of a specific word. However, we can also scan different types of texts, not just
dictionariesand reference materials.
,Extensive Reading
Extensive reading is a type of reading where you engage yourself with different types of reading
material. It can be fiction, non-fiction, work-related documents, newspaper articles or even statistical
data. At work, there are complex business reports to read, numbers to make sense of and emails to write.
With extensive reading, you can skim large amounts of text and get a general idea of what it‟s trying to
convey.The meaning of extensive reading is reading widely but not necessarily focusing on only one
text. You can read from different sources to develop your reading skills. It‟s not about finding layers of
meaning, grammar rules or other critical aspects of a text.
Extensive reading has been used for beginner-level language learners. It helps to familiarize them with
reading material and build the cognitive ability to understand new words, frame sentences and make
sense of the text as a complete unit. You’ll get a general understanding of the text and improve your
language skills.
Whether you’re a beginner or a proficient reader, extensive reading will help you polish your reading
ability. You can try to read as much and as widely as possible. It’s better not to restrict yourself to the
same type of sources.
Few examples of extensive reading are newspapers, blogs and e-magazines.
Intensive Reading
Intensive Reading is a reading method wherein learners are supposed to read the short text carefully
and deeply so as to gain maximum understanding. It involves an analysis of the text by the
deconstruction of the sentences and looking over each word, phrase and collocation which is not
understandable with an aim of extracting the essence and meaning of the text as much as possible and
learn the grammar and syntax rules. Examples of Intensive Reading:
Articles or editorials in magazines like The Economic and Political Weekly
Blog posts on various topics ranging from science and technology to art and culture
Short stories or poetry with layers of meaning
Business reports packed with important information, numbers and
dataAnalyzing statistical data like diagrams, images and tables
,HOMECOMING - R.N. TAGORE
Phatik Chakravorti was a mischievous boy. He was the ringleader among village boys.
He decided to roll away the log which was lying on the mudflat of the river. It was to be used into
themast of a boat. All the friends agreed to this mischief to annoy the owner.
But, Makhan, Phatik's younger brother, decided against it and sat down on the log. When he did
notget up after repeated threats, requests, Phatik ordered his friends to roll the log and Makhan
with it.
Once this was done, Makhan's philosophy and glory was lost. Makhan scratched Phatik's face
andbeat him in rage. He went home crying.
A man stepped down from the boat onto the shore. He asked Phatik the residence of Chakravortis.
Hecould not direct correctly and asked him to "Go and find out".
The servant from Phatik's house came to take him back home on his mother's orders. When Phatik
denied, he took him up in his arms forcefully and took him home. At home, Makhan had lied that
Phatikhad beaten him up, so Phatik beat him in front of his mother. The mother was outraged and hit
him withher hands.
Just at this moment, the grey-haired, middle-aged stranger arrived at Phatik's home. He was
the brother of Phatik's mother, Bishamber. He had gone away soon after Phatik's mother's
marriage toBombay to set up his business.
Phatik's father had died.
Mother told Bishamber that Phatik was lazy, disobedient, wild, and a nuisance whereas Makhan
wasas good as gold - quiet and fond of reading.
Bishamber offered to educate Phatik with his children in Calcutta and Phatik excitedly agreed.
The mother was a bit upset to see Phatik's eagerness to go away but was still greatly relieved
becauseshe lived in constant fear of Phatik killing Makhan.
Phatik, in excitement and generosity, gave away his fishing rod, marbles, and a big kite to Makhan.
WhenPhatik reached Calcutta and at Bishamber's house, he discovered that the aunt was not
happywith his arrival and his unnecessary addition to her family.
He was a boy of fourteen and this age is definitely a nuisance for elders and for the self-
consciousboy.
At fourteen, there are physical changes in the body and mental aggression to prove one's worth to
theworld. At this age, one becomes hungry for love and recognition.
Nobody loves a lad of fourteen openly for fear of indulgence so he becomes a stray dog. For him,
hisown house is his paradise.
Phatik was saddened by his unwelcome stay at his aunt's house and in order to win her did any
taskgiven to him with over-excitement and thus, would mess it up.
He started feeling suffocated in the house. He wished to go to green fields and breathe, but
hecouldn't.
He started missing his village, his home, the river-bank, his kites, his boy-band, his tyranny, and his
prejudiced mother.
He could not understand anything in school and was the weakest student. He would receive
several blows from the teachers. Still, he would look out at the terrace of homes surrounding the
school and if he chanced upon children playing on terrace, he would watch them with wistful
yearning.
One day, tired of the loneliness and being unsocial, he asked his uncle when he could go home to
which his uncle stated that he could go home in the holidays. But holidays were far away in
November.
Another day, Phatik lost his lesson-book and it became impossible for him to prepare lessons.
Hiscousins mocked him and were ashamed to own him. The teacher would cane him unmercifully.
Finally, he gathered up enough courage to ask his aunt for new books. When he did, he was
crudelyrebuked, and castigated.
, He became hopeless, and that very night suffered severe shivering and anxiety attack.
The next day, he was to be found nowhere. Police was called.
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