Different ways of reading

While visiting the Rachna bookstore in Gangtok, Sikkim I saw these delightful readers. And that got me thinking of the various ways of reading.

That person in a brown robe with a pen in hand seems to be reading for detail. Intensive reading.

On the other hand, the owl behind him seems to be reading for pleasure. Could the owl be reading an engaging novel?

Let’s go through some different ways of reading. I’m sure you use many of these approaches, even if you are not be familiar with their names.

Different ways of reading

Scanning

You do this when when scrolling for a particular name on your phone.

When we are scanning a text, we are searching for a specific piece of information. It could be a name, address, number, or percentage. For example, at the airport, you may be scanning the list of flights on a screen. You stop when you find your flight number.

You may be scanning this post right now–searching for any new pieces of information.

Scanning is a useful sub-skill of reading. It saves time.

But, sometimes, you need to do more. Reading needs to be more meaningful.

Skimming

When you need to understand the main idea of a text–the gist of the text– then skim.

Here are some steps to follow:

  1. Read the title. Look at the photo (if there is one). Predict what the text is going to be about. Take just a few seconds to do this. This helps you prepare your mind to better absorb the text.
  2. Read the first paragraph. This will give you a good idea as to what the writer intends to say.
  3. Read the first sentence for each paragraph. This first sentence is a topic sentence. At times, you may need to read the first two sentences to get a good understanding of the topic of the paragraph. For the time being, ignore detailed explanations and examples. When skimming, you are searching for main ideas. No distractions.
  4. Read the last paragraph. That concludes the text and would contain the main takeaways.

Intensive reading

Remember your school days? The day before the exam–your nose buried in a text book. You were doing intensive reading. (I hope.)

This kind of reading is reading to understand the text in a detailed manner. You pay attention to vocabulary, grammar, information, and arguments. You make inferences. You try to absorb the text.

Adults may be doing intensive reading when reading a report. If you are a scientist, it could be a scientific report. If you work for a company, it could be the company’s annual report.

This kind of reading requires you to pay attention. To focus.

Extensive reading

This is my favourite kind of reading. Reading long texts for pleasure.

Nowadays, not many people read for pleasure, but they should. Reading a long article or a novel broadens your horizons. It makes you better able to relate to other people. Better able to empathize.

Extensive reading builds vocabulary. This is the best way to learn new words. You come across words in their natural setting–in a sentence. I have met students who prefer to learn new words from lists. That is not an effective way to learn new vocabulary. You need to find words in their context. Extensive reading is the answer to vocabulary building.

In this world of AI, it is important for you to be able to synthesize data. To connect the dots. To be creative. Extensive reading will help you.

Putting it all together

How do you usually read? Lots of scanning and some skimming?

Now that you are aware of these reading sub-skills, notice yourself when reading. How do you read?

When reading online articles, we could use a mix of sub-skills. Let’s apply those sub-skills to this article on language learning. Click on the link and quickly plan how you would read the article. Then return to this page.

Are you back?

Let’s look at how to approach the article together.

  1. Read the main heading. Look at the image. Predict what the article is about. For instance: I see a hand to a ear. Will the article talk about the importance of listening in language learning?
  2. Read the paragraphs under the heading: Language experts say you should learn in the right order and shift to a growth mindset. That will give you a good idea of what the writer intends to cover. Do keep in mind that in online articles paragraphs have become shorter, so you may need to read the first three or four (short) paragraphs to get an idea of text.
  3. Scan the sub-headings. Is there anything that interests you? If so, stop and do intensive reading. For example, I slowed down when I saw the sub-heading: How do humans learn languages?

Or

You could skim the entire text and then decide if you want to read any paragraph in greater detail. Skimming the text means reading the first sentence, and perhaps the second one as well. At times, the second sentence could be the topic sentence.

When you read next time…

Having a reading strategy will help you become a more effective reader. Try the steps the we looked at the next time you read an article or report.

By consciously applying these reading sub-skills, you’ll use your time more efficiently. You’ll be better able to identify and remember key points. And then you could take a well-deserved break, just like that brown-robed person snoozing on the couch. Scroll up to see him.

Free webinar on language for meetings

When you participate in meetings and group discussions, how effective a communicator are you?

How do you present your opinions? Do you just state your opinion or do you use some phrases to introduce your opinion?

How can you make a powerful interruption? What phrases could you use?

In this webinar you will participate in a group discussion. The trainer will give you feedback on the language used. So, be prepared to speak!

If you want to improve your speaking skills, then this webinar could help.

Join the Learning English Webinars Whatsapp group for updates and the zoom link:

https://chat.whatsapp.com/K4bkPtUrf1r8H04OwR4ptq

Are you lovin’ it?

I’m sure you’ve seen this line below the golden arches before. McDonald’s has even trademarked it. Why is so catchy? Love is a state verb. That’s the short answer.

Let’s find out more about state verbs. These verbs fall into four categories.

The four categories of state verbs

  1. Mental states. This includes verbs such as know, think, and believe. For example: She knows a lot about astronomy.
  2. Emotional states, such as like, love, prefer, and hate. For example, I like to wake up early in the morning.
  3. The senses–see, hear, smell, and taste. For instance, this pizza margerita tastes delicious.
  4. Possession. Verbs such as: own, have, and possess. For example: I own a bicycle.

What you need to know

Here is your takeaway from this post. We do not add an ‘ing’ at the end of a state verb.

So, we say: I prefer speaking French. Not: I am preferring speaking French.

We say: Yoko has a degree in chemistry. Not: Yoko is having a degree in chemistry.

But, wait a second. Can’t I say: I’m having a snack? Yes, you can.

In this case, ‘having’ is not a state verb–it’s an action verb. Action verbs are verbs such as walk, talk, and sleep. With action verbs, we can add an ‘ing’ to show an action over a period of time. For example: He is walking in the garden.

I’m having a snack = I am eating a snack.

‘Having’ here is an action verb. It is not a state verb. Does that make sense?

Now, what about I’m loving it? Is ‘love’ a state verb or an action verb? Yes, it is a state verb. Usually, if we were to follow the rules of grammar, we would not add an ‘ing’. It should be: I love it.

Yawn. That sounds so ordinary.

The line–I’m loving it–bursts into your mind. Why? Because it sounds fun. It sounds different. By breaking the rules of grammar, this line becomes memorable.

The next time you see ‘I’m lovin it’, think about state verbs. Recollect the rule about not using ‘ing’. You’ll appreciate why that grammatically incorrect sentence deserves to be trademarked.

By the way, the use of love in the ‘ing’ form has become more common. You may here the sentence, ‘I’m loving your work’. So, using ‘loving’ may not raise eyebrows from English teachers, as it would have in the past.

As that well-known philosopher, Bob Dylan, once sang: The times, they are a-changin’.

Image credit: World Vector Logo

The magic of the second conditional

Two people on Mars looking up at the sky thinking of Earth.

If you lived on Mars, would you miss earth?

If. That one-syllable word opens the door to a world of imagination.

Whenever we read a novel or watch a Netflix series, we slip into the unreal world defined by if.

The second conditional is about imaginary or unreal situations. Just like the image above of the two people on Mars gazing up in the direction of earth.

The form of the second conditional is:

if + past tense, would + bare infinitive

If you lived on Mars, would you miss earth?

If you enjoy stories, plays, and films, then the second conditional is for you.

But, the second conditional can multi-task. In fact, there are many occasions where you can use this conditional at work.

Three ways to use the second conditional at work

Giving advice or making a suggestion

If you want to give advice in a tactful way, you could say:

If I were you, I would send the data to HQ by this afternoon.

Doesn’t that sound better than saying:

You should send the data to HQ by this afternoon.

You could use the second conditional with colleagues and with people who report to you. When you say, if I were you, you are putting yourself in their shoes. In a sense, you are nudging them to do something. Nudging is good, right?

Brainstorming

If we opened pop-up restaurants in all major cities, would people try the food?

If we offered a discount for the festive season, would we liquadate all our stock?

If the ad campaign focused only on Instagram, would we reach our target audience?

What do you think of these three second conditional sentences?

To my mind, these sentences invite thoughtful discussion. They ask the people in the room to consider other possibilities. The space for interaction and ideas expands. Thinking caps are put on.

Can you picture yourself using a second conditional sentence in your next meeting?

Proposing a solution

If we added two more associates to the team, would the client agree?

If the factory increased capacity utilization by 10%, would they deliver the shirts by Christmas?

Perhaps you wish to make a proposal. Using the second conditional is an indirect way of doing so. Just like in the case of brainstorming, it promotes meaningful discussion.

If you want to reach a consensus in the team, use the second conditional. It is an inclusive way of arriving at a decision.

Takeaway

Using the second conditional makes you sound more professional. By asking these tentative questions, you soften your language. You become more inclusive. You encourage meaningful conversations.

If that is the kind of person or leader you wish to be, then use the second conditional at least once today.

You can scroll up to review how to make a second conditional sentence–go to the form.

Since you’ve read till the end, I have a bonus for you.

The next time you hear the song, If I were a boy, you’ll be able to identify which conditional it is in. Wouldn’t that feel satisfying?

Thanks for singing the second conditional, Beyonce!

In this post, we have looked at the second conditional. Here are posts on two other conditionals — the zero conditional and the first conditional. If I were you, I would….

What is the zero conditional?

The photo is of a shop promotion.

This photo is from a local neighborhood shop. To read the offer fully, it would be–if you buy 3 shirts, you get five shirts. Presto! And just like that, we have a sentence in the zero conditional.

The zero conditional is used to convey 100% certainty.

For instance, these sentences are in the zero conditional:

Condition, result

If you freeze water, it becomes ice.

When you melt ice, it becomes water.

The first part of the sentence is the condition. If that condition is met, the result is guaranteed.

In case you are itching to make more sentences in the zero conditional, use this form:

If + present simple, present simple

If you heat pure gold to 1064oCelsius, it melts.

As can be seen from these sentences above, the zero conditional is used for scientific facts.

I can hear you thinking…. This post is about melting ice and gold. What does this have to do with me?

As you now know, we use the zero conditional when talking about a result that we are a 100% sure of. So, we can use it for rules, policies, laws, and procedures. Has anyone told you this zero conditional sentence?

‘If you don’t update your password, you can’t access your account.’

Now, doesn’t that sound all too familiar? And I’m sure we have all read something along these lines–

If you wish to cancel your subscription, click the button below.

Yes, you have been reading zero conditional sentences for quite a while. And, the next time you spot an irresistible offer such as buy 1,get 1 free— you’ll know which conditional it is!

If you wish to know about the first conditional, click here.

Do you do a lot of brainstorming at work? If yes, then the second conditional is what you could use.

Do you use the first conditional?

Sign that is an example of the first conditional

If car is parked here, tyres will be deflated.

Gulp… These people mean business. That is a no-nonsense message. Nobody would dare park their car near that sign.

You may have noticed that there are some grammatical and spelling errors in this memorable line. Let’s clean it up.

If you park your car here, its tires will be deflated.

Luckily for us, this sentence is in the first conditional, providing a teaching moment.

The first conditional is about things that are likely to happen in the future.

There are two components in the first conditional.

The first is the condition–if clause. And the second is the result–will clause.

condition / result

If you park your car here, its tires will be deflated.

The form is: if + present simple, will + infinitive

Could we use the first conditional in our daily lives? The answer is: yes.

Here are some examples:

If the client asks for a further discount, we’ll have to walk away.

If that movie comes to town, I’ll watch it.

You can switch the clauses around as well.

We’ll have to walk away if the client asks for a further discount.

Note that here, we do not need to use a comma to divide the two clauses.

As you can see, there are many instances when we can use the first conditional–at work and outside.

When do you use the first conditional?

Now that you know about the first conditional, you’re all set to find out about the zero conditional. It’s all about facts.

If on the other hand, you wish to enter the world of speculation, consider using the second conditional.

The magic of the pause

I took this photo in a park that I often go to. Can you spot anything unusual? Take a few seconds to look carefully.

Did you spot the lighted lamps? Lighted lamps in broad daylight!

When we pause, we see things we would have otherwise missed.

Now, let’s look at the benefits of pausing when speaking.

Pausing gives you control

When we speak, we sometimes speak fast. This creates problems.

Our mouth may move faster than our mind. We may not have time to clearly formulate our thoughts. We may end up stuck at a ‘dead end’. We may forget to give a relevant example that could support our argument.

Instead of speaking at the speed of a Formula One racecar, do this: pause. It acts like a speed breaker on the road. It gives you time to think what you are going to say. It helps you organise your thoughts.

Pausing improves your language. When you speak quickly, you may not choose the right words to express what you want to say. Pause. Give your mind the space to search for that right word or exact phrase.

When we speak we may mispronounce a complicated or unfamiliar word. Pause. Give your mind an extra few seconds to prepare your voice to pronounce the word correctly.

Pausing lets you connect with the audience. When speaking, don’t be wrapped up in what you have to say. Don’t be glued to the slides.

Pause. Look around. Read the room. Do you see more interest for the second option? Are there some perplexed faces after you spoke about the action plan? You may wish to respond to what you have noticed.

Pausing helps your audience

Your audience needs time to absorb information. By pausing you give people an opportunity to reflect on what you have just said.

Pausing also allows your audience to prepare their minds for what is next.

You have something important to say. Make sure your audience follows what you are saying. Make sure they remember what you have just said.

Pause. Pause. Pause.

When do I pause?

Think in terms of thought groups. Thought groups are groups of words that carry a single unit of meaning. Here’s an example.

Say these two sentences without any pausing:

We need to start the social media campaign by November. The research shows that our target audience is mostly on Instagram.

Let’s identify the thought groups–

Thought group 1: We need to start the social media campaign

Thought group 2: by November.

Thought group 3: The research shows that

Thought group 4: our target audience is mostly on Instagram.

Say these two sentences again. But this time, pause after each thought group.

We need to start the social media campaign /pause/ by November. /pause/ The research shows that /pause/ our target audience is mostly on Instagram.

Can you feel the difference? Did you have more control while speaking?

Pausing is powerful.

Rules of thumb for pausing

Take very short pauses between word groups. The same goes for punctuation marks such as commas and semicolons.

After a full stop, pause for one to two seconds.

Pause before and after saying an important word or phrase. Two to three seconds should be sufficient.

If you have something dramatic to say, go for the dramatic pause. This could be a bit longer, say three to four seconds. When watching the Oscars ceremony, notice the dramatic pause. ‘The Oscar goes to….’

What we have covered are rules of thumb. Practice and find out how long your pauses should be.

Make sure to use pausing in your next presentation

Do you have an important presentation or speech coming up? Follow these steps to use pausing effectively.

Write down your presentation or speech.

Identify all thought groups.

Make a slash (/) after each thought group. You will be making very short pauses here.

Identify your main words or phrases. Before and after these key words or phrases, make two slashes: //. You will be making longer pauses here.

Next, record yourself reading the text. Be sure to pause at the right places.

Listen to your recording. How was it? Were your pauses too long? Too short? Perhaps, you could ask a friend to listen and give feedback.

Then try it again. After practicing a few times, you’ll start noticing something. Pausing starts feeling natural. You’ll be putting in less conscious effort.

Your future as a presenter

Imagine this: after a few presentations, you’ll be pausing naturally. You’re rate of speech will be just right–with the pauses acting as speed breakers. You will automatically identify thought groups. You will naturally pause before an important word or concept.

And your audience will be engaged. They will follow your line of thought as you move from one section of your presentation to the next. They will absorb your key points.

If during your presentation, a tricky question is asked, you respond by saying: “That’s an interesting point.” Then, you pause before saying anything else. By pausing, you give your mind time to consider the question and respond in a controlled, effective manner.

Does the scenario which I have painted sound appealing to you?

It’s absolutely possible.

And it starts with a pause.

Have you ever thought about how to use space when writing? Read this article on paragraphs and space.

Best website for learning English

Best website for learning English

Students frequently ask me which website they can visit to learn English.

Of course, there are so many out there. In my experience as a trainer, the best one is BBC Learning English. Their material is relevant and engaging.

This is a disclaimer: BBC is not paying me. I’m writing this post so that you could get the most out of the website.

Wait!

Before you google BBC Learning English, let me give you an overview.

The website has a lot to offer. Let’s start:

Vocabulary

The more words you know, the more precisely you can express yourself. When a person has a limited vocabulary, he tends to repeat words and phrases.

Whatever our English levels may be, we all need to expand our range of vocabulary.

It takes time to learn new words. My suggestion to you is this: go slow. Don’t just learn the meaning of words. Practice using them. Become familiar with them. Use them correctly.

I’ve noticed that students at times struggle with phrasal verbs. Do you freak out when you hear the phrase phrasal verbs? Help is at hand. Here’s the definition. If you are working, then you need phrasal verbs, for well, for work. And we all need phrasal verbs for technology.

Vocabulary is not limited to learning phrasal verbs. You also need to learn more words and phrases.

Visit this page to learn words from the news. I liked this episode on fake news.

If you have six minutes to spare, go to 6 minute English. I’ve just listened to the episode Call centres: Are you talking to AI?

English in a minute is a great way to improve your vocabulary. You can hit the nail on the head by learning new phrases within sixty seconds.

Remember, it’s not just about learning new phrases. It’s about using new phrases appropriately. I suggest you select phrases you like and try to use them during the week. Over time, you will be on fire!

Grammar

Are you comfortable with all the tenses that are there? You can confide in me. Be honest.

Tenses with Georgie is a good, fun way to revise tenses.

Prepositions can be confusing. Are you in a train or on a train? Mmm…. Not sure? Check out Prepositions with Georgie and find out.

If you like the idea of learning grammar by watching The Grammar Gameshow , go for it.

There is so much more when it comes to grammar. I know, it seems endless. Visit the main grammar page to find out more.

Pronunciation

Whatever your accent may be, that’s okay. What’s important is that you speak clearly and fluently.

The sounds of English are the building blocks of words. Are you keen to learn these sounds? Do you want to know the difference between voiced and voiceless consonants? You are at the right place.

Check out The Sounds of English on the pronunciation main page. I watched those short videos years ago, and I found them helpful. I hope you do too.

Tim’s Pronunciation Workshop is an effective way to learn about different aspects of pronunciation, such as elision and assimilation. Not familiar with those last two words? No worries. You’re probably doing some it already, in a natural way.

It’s more fun learning pronunciation than it is learning grammar. Do you agree?

Is there anything ‘more’ to do on the website?

On the right hand side of the menu bar, there is an option: More. Click on it with confidence. Don’t hesitate.

I have noticed that students often do not know their level. Do you know yours? Are you at the intermediate level? Upper-intermediate? Advanced?

Here’s the thing. Many students are generous when it comes to deciding which level they are at.

I’ve seen this happen lots of times: a person who is at the intermediate level believes that he is an upper-intermediate student! And the same goes for other levels as well. Many students are bumping themselves up a level.

I’m not a 100% convinced when it comes to online level tests. Having said that, try the level test at BBC learning English. See what you get.

If you enjoy listening to podcasts, try this out. You can listen while travelling.

Do you enjoy drama? I’ve just started listening to The Importance of Being Earnest.

There are many things to do in the ‘more’ section. Find out what works for you.

Before you go…

As you can tell, I’m pretty impressed with this website. It has a depth and breath that I’ve not seen anywhere else.

What do you do now? It’s up to you. If you want to improve your vocabulary, then click on the related links. The same goes for the other topics.

When learning English, be consistent. Consistency is the magic sauce that will help you improve your English.

Apart from BBC Learning English, here are two other websites I recommend.

Happy learning!