If you or someone you know cannot read, you are not alone. Thirty-two million American adults, who make up 14% of the entire adult population, cannot read, and 21% read below elementary level. The good news is, it's never too late to learn how to read. This article can help you or someone close to you develop good reading skills.
Steps
Method 1 of 4: Mastering the Basics
Step 1. Start with the alphabet
The alphabet is where it all begins. The 26 letters that make up the English alphabet are used to form all words in the English language, so this is the starting point. There are several ways to familiarize yourself with the alphabet: choose the one that suits you and your learning style.
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Sing it. It may sound silly, but there is a reason why so many people have learned the alphabet by singing the alphabet song: it works! The melody helps in memorization and the song in its entirety gives students a picture of the entire alphabet and the relationship between the letters.
You can listen to the song of the alphabet online or you can have it sung and then recorded by someone you know, so you can listen to it over and over until you learn it
- Feel it physically. If you are a student who learns by practice, consider purchasing sandpaper letters. Look at a letter and then close your eyes, run your fingers over the letter and repeat the name of the letter and its sound. When you're ready, withdraw your finger from the sandpaper and write the letter in the air.
- Mess it up. Get a set of alphabet magnets to learn the individual letters, as well as their sequence. Later you can reuse these letters to practice forming words.
- Walking. If you have space, try using a mat with the alphabet as a learning tool. Repeat each letter and its sound as you step on that letter on your mat. Ask someone to say random letters or sounds and step on the correct matching letter. Involve your whole body, voice included, by singing the song of the alphabet and doing a dance as you approach the alphabet.
Step 2. Distinguish vowels from consonants
There are five vowels in the alphabet: a, e, i, o, u; the remaining letters are called consonants.
Make the vowel sounds in your throat, with the help of your tongue and mouth, but form consonants by using your tongue and mouth differently, that is, to control the flow of your breath. Vowels can be pronounced alone, but consonants cannot. For example, the letter A in English is simply the indefinite article "a". Instead B is pronounced as "bee" which in Italian is "ape", C is "see", "see", D is "dee", plural of "goddess" and so on
Step 3. Use Phonetics
Phonetics is all about relationships, especially the relationships between letters and sounds of a language. For example, when you learn that the letter C sounds like "dog" or "key" or "sky", you are learning phonics.
- Find an approach that makes sense to you. Phonetics is generally taught in two ways: in what is called a "look and speak" approach, where you learn how to read whole words, or a syllabic approach, where you learn how to pronounce combinations between different letters instead. put them together, forming words.
- To learn phonetics, you need to hear the sounds of syllables and / or words. To do this you need to find an online program, purchase or borrow a DVD from your local library, or work with a family member, friend, tutor or instructor who can help you learn the sounds created by the various letter combinations and those. that seem written.
Step 4. Recognize punctuation marks
It is important to know what common punctuation marks mean when you are reading, because they can offer insight into the meanings of the sentence.
- COMMA (,) When you see a comma, you are told to pause or hesitate slightly when reading.
- DOT (.) A period indicates the end of a sentence. When you reach a point, stop completely and take a deep breath before continuing to read.
- QUESTION POINT (?) When you ask a question, the voice goes up. When do you see the symbol? at the end of the sentence, it means it's a question, so make sure your voice rises when you're reading.
- EXCLAMATION POINT (!) This symbol is used to emphasize an important point or to grab attention. When you read a sentence that ends with the! Symbol, use a warm sound or heavily underline the words.
Method 2 of 4: Start Reading
Step 1. Choose reading material that is meaningful
Since the most intelligent readers read with purpose, it must make sense for you to start reading the material you like or need to read in everyday life. You can include short, simple newspaper and magazine articles, work notes, schedules, and medical instructions.
Step 2. Read aloud
The best way to familiarize yourself with words on paper is to say them aloud. When working with a supportive friend, have unusual words explained and use pictures, verbal explanations and context to help you represent the meaning of new words.
Step 3. Take some time to read
Reading often and for continuous, uninterrupted periods of time will help you develop your vocabulary and become a more proficient reader. Set aside specific amounts of time each day to devote to reading. Keep track of what you read and for how long, using a reading log.
Method 3 of 4: Learn Reading Strategies
Step 1. Attack the words
Strategically throwing yourself into words can help you understand the meaning and pronunciation of unknown words by collecting those words piece by piece and observing them from different angles.
- Look for photographic details. Look at the photos, illustrations or other images on the page. Explore what they represent (people, places, objects, actions) and what might make sense in the sentence.
- Bring out the sound of the word. Starting with the first letter, you need to say the sound of each one out loud, slowly. Then you have to repeat the sounds, joining them together to form the word and you have to consider if the word makes sense in the sentence.
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Break up the word. Look at the word and see if you can distinguish any sound, symbol, prefix, suffix, ending or base word you already know. Read each piece by itself and then try blending the pieces and the sound of the word together.
For example, knowing that "pre" means "before" and "sight" means "to look", if you approached the word by breaking it into those two pieces, you might understand that "forecast" means "to look forward in time"
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Look for connections. Check if the unfamiliar word has any similarity to a word you may already know. Ask yourself if it is a piece or a form of the unknown word.
You can also try using the known word in the sentence to see if it makes sense; it may happen that the meanings of the two words are close enough to allow you to understand the sentence
Step 2. Read it again
Return to the sentence. Try substituting different words for the unfamiliar word and see if one of your ideas makes sense.
Step 3. Read on
Rather than getting stuck on a word you don't know, read the continuation and look for more clues. If the word is still used in the text, compare that sentence with the first one and let your imagination run wild as to what word might mean either way.
Step 4. Trust in a priori knowledge
Consider what you know about the subject of the book, paragraph, or sentence. Based on your knowledge of the subject, is there a word that might make sense in the sentence?
Step 5. Make predictions
See the images, table of contents, chapter titles, maps, diagrams and other features of your book. Then, based on what you saw, write what you think will be covered in the book and what information might be included. When you read, keep your predictions up to date as to what will come out of the text.
Step 6. Ask questions
After reviewing the title, chapter titles, images, and other information contained in the book, write down some questions you may have or things you are now curious about. Try answering these questions as you read, then write down the answers you find. If you have any questions left, think about whether you could have found those answers from some other source.
Step 7. View
Think of the story you are reading as if it were a movie. Get a good mental picture of the characters and the setting and try to see the story unfold in time and space. Identify and describe what is happening by making cartoon-style sketches, diagrams, or grids.
Step 8. Make connections
Ask yourself if there is anything in the story you can relate to. Do the characters remind you of someone you know? Have you had similar experiences? Did you learn some of the concepts discussed in the book at school, at home, or through your own life experience? Does the style of the story resemble a style you've read before or a movie or TV show you've seen? Write down any similarities that come to your mind and use them to help you understand the text.
Step 9. Tell the story again
A useful way to ensure that something you've read makes sense to you is to talk about it with someone else. Once you have finished a paragraph, article, story or chapter, summarize in your own words what it was all about. Listen to yourself as you speak out loud and find out if the listener has any questions you can or can't answer. This can point out any gaps in your understanding and so you'll know what you may need to reread for clarity.
Method 4 of 4: Get Help
Step 1. Log in to LINCS, Literacy Information and Communication System
LINCS, a communication and information system and service on literacy, is an online resource sponsored by the United States Department of Education. By logging into that website, you can see a list of literacy programs in your specific geographic area, if American. Many of the programs listed are free, but to be sure, you need to read the details of each ad.
Step 2. Contact your local library
Many libraries offer free literacy programs that match readers, even in small groups, with a tutor trained in literacy. These programs are free and are typically offered continuously, so you don't have to wait until a certain date to get started with the course.
Step 3. Explore the services in your community
Ask your local religious group, church, public school, or any other group in your community if they sponsor literacy programs or if they can connect you with someone willing to help you improve your reading skills.
Step 4. Take tests for learning disabilities
You may have had a hard time learning to read because you have a learning disability. For example, dyslexia, a learning disability characterized by difficulties in interpreting spatial relationships or in the integration of visual and auditory information, is the most common and affects about 10 percent of the population. Having a learning disability does not mean that you will not be able to learn to read, it simply means that you may need to use special tools or customize the learning process.
Advice
- Read the things YOU want to read. If you are interested in sports, read the sports news. If you like animals, read about them.
- If you are reading this article for a friend or family member, remember that reading, especially in the beginning, can be a struggle. Be supportive!
- Remember that learning to read is a process. Be patient with yourself and celebrate even the smallest progress along the path of learning.
- Adapt the reading instructions to yourself. Do you need to see larger fonts to distinguish them more clearly? Is it necessary to take breaks?
