READING STRATEGIES

READING STRATEGIES
Previewing

Contextualizing

Visualizing

Asking and answering questions

Skimming

Scanning

Summarizing
 READING STRATEGIES
Previewing:

Previewing is absolutely essential for students to get a sense of what the text is
about. Elements that are usually helpful for previewing are newspaper headlines
or titles; images or photos; and signal words or format. For example, if the article
has words like first, second, third, etc… at the beginning of each paragraph or is a
numbered list, students will get the sense that the text lists steps or is a roundup
article.
READING STRATEGIES
READING STRATEGIES
 READING STRATEGIES
Contextualizing:

It is always helpful for students to learn to place the text within a context. Is the
news article centered on something that happens everywhere in the world, or just
in one specific location? Is this something that affects you, the reader, or other
people in the world? Does the main character in the story go through something
you can relate to, or something you have no experience in? These are great
questions for students to think about as they read.
 READING STRATEGIES
Skimming:

Skimming and scanning are usually considered speed-reading skills because they
are not used for intensive reading. They are essential skills nonetheless, and
students need to know that sometimes intensive reading is not necessary.

Skimming a text involves running your eyes over it quickly to get the main idea. It
also allows you to identify which parts of a long text you might want to read more
closely. This skill is particularly useful, for example, for Business English students
who have to read long reports that are several pages long. By skimming the
report, they can still follow the gist and stop when they find something of
particular interest to them.
 READING STRATEGIES
Summarizing:

After the reading, students should be able to summarize what they’ve read. This
may be a short oral summary or a full paragraph. Summarizing includes a very
important skill: getting the gist. What was the main point in the story?
Summarizing is not retelling everything that happened as it happened, and
students need to not only tell the difference, but also learn to give back
information in a clear concise manner.
 READING STRATEGIES
Visualizing:

Some students, especially those who are visual

learners, need to “see” the information. Can you
see the main character in your mind’s eye based
on the description? Can you picture the
contaminated river as described in the news
article? Visualizing also involves organizing the
information in a visual way, usually through the
use of a mind map or other graphic organizer.
 READING STRATEGIES
Scanning:

Scanning, on the other hand, allows you to quickly search a text for a particular
piece of information. Scanning is ideal when students need to find a phone
number in a directory, the date of a historical event or the time their train is
leaving.
 READING STRATEGIES
Asking and Answering Questions:

What questions come to mind when you preview an article? How will the main
character solve this problem? Students need to come up with questions they
would like answered in the text and pay attention to how they are answered.
Monitor
The noun monitor refers to the video screen used to display information on your
computer.
Sample sentence: I work on the computer most of the day. I find that using a bigger
monitor reduces (lessens) the strain on my eyes.

To monitor can also be used as a verb to describe the action of keeping watch over a
technical fault or process running on a computer.
Sample sentence: The technical support team will monitor my computer over a period of
time to see what’s causing this problem.
Connect
The verb to connect is used to describe the action of establishing (making)
communication with the Internet or with another device (computer equipment) such as a
monitor, modem, etc.

Sample sentence: Can you please show me how to connect my laptop to the central
printer?

The noun connection refers to the communication between two or more computer
devices, or a link to the Internet.

Sample sentence: According to Techspot, Speedtest has released a report of the speed of
Internet connections across the US.
Install
The verb to install means to set up or make a computer or application (software program)
ready for use.

Sample sentence: On my first day of work, my supervisor sent the technical support team
to install a new computer for me.

So then, the noun installation refers to the act of installing a computer or application.

Sample sentence: InfoWorld has the complete guide to Windows 10 installation that will
answer any questions you might have.
Network
Did you know that your computer at work is probably linked to the office network?

The noun network refers to a system of connected computers and other devices such as printers
that exchange data with each other. A private office network is known as intranet.

Sample sentence: Before we open for business, I need to get my office computer network set up
and tested.

Networked, the adjective form of this word, is used to describe this kind of environment
(situation).

Sample sentence: In a networked system, a problem on one computer could affect all the other
computers on the network.
Boot
The verb to boot has a special meaning in IT. It’s often used in the phrasal verb to boot
up, which means to turn on a computer and have it ready for use. You could also say
“start up” or “power up.”

Sample sentence: There seems to be a problem with my laptop. It wouldn’t boot up this
morning.
 Boot up is a separable phrasal verb that you can use with a pronoun. You can use “start
up” and “power up” in the same way, they’re both separable. This means that you can
take the preposition “up” and use it later in the sentence. It does not have to follow
directly after “boot.”

Sample sentence: There seems to be a problem with my laptop. I couldn’t boot it up this
morning.
Adding the prefix “re” gives the word reboot. The suffix “re” is often used to mean doing
something again. The verb to reboot means to start your computer again.

Sample sentence: If you’re still getting errors on your computer, you might want to
reboot it.

Reboot can also be used as a noun.

Sample sentence: If you’re still getting errors on your computer, a reboot might help.
Access
The verb to access, when used in IT, means entering and using a computer, website or
application.

Sample sentence: This is a shared computer only for the use of our department. You can
get the password from me if you need to access it.

The noun access refers to the act of accessing the computer. It’s commonly used with the
verb “grant” to mean give permission to use.

Sample sentence: I’m afraid we can’t grant anyone access to our department’s
computers.
Log in
Some websites and applications need you to log in before you can enter and use them. To log in
refers to the process where you enter certain information before you’re allowed to access a
website or application.

Sample sentence: I’ve forgotten my password so I can’t log in to Gmail anymore.

The opposite of log in is log out which is what you should do to exit a site or application.

Sample sentence: Don’t forget to log out before you leave especially if you’re using a shared
computer.

Sometimes the terms sign in and sign out are also used.
Download
To download is a verb you’ll often hear in IT to talk about transferring data or information
from a main computer source to another device.

Sample sentence: I need to download the photos of my business trip to my computer for
today’s presentation.

The noun download refers to the information or application that has been downloaded.

Sample sentence: I found a download on Computer Weekly for the most popular
technology articles in 2023 for IT leaders.
Upgrade
It’s not unusual to hear this word in a fast-changing field like IT. The verb to upgrade
means to bring your computer (or other device) up to date with the latest hardware or
software.

Sample sentence: Our management is confident that our business will improve if we
upgrade to the latest computer equipment.

The noun upgrade simply means an update to a higher (newer) version. You might’ve
heard the common phrase “get an upgrade.”

Sample sentence: According to Infoworld, IT managers have been waiting for the
upgrade to Windows 11.
Analyze
The verb to analyze is used quite often in IT when there’s a need to study data,
information or even a technical problem closely. For instance, you might analyze product
trends or a problem with your communications network.

Sample sentence: This is not a problem with a simple solution. We need time to analyze
why your laptop won’t boot up.

The noun form analysis refers to the act of, and the result of analyzing the data or
problem.

Sample sentence: According to the technical support team’s analysis, you’re better off
buying a new laptop than trying to repair this one.
Browse
The verb to browse is used in IT to look over information casually without being too
detailed.

Sample sentence: Before you come to the meeting, please browse online to get some
ideas of the current trends in office furniture.

The noun browser, as you may already know, refers to the program on your computer
that allows you to open and use websites on the Internet.

Sample sentence: If your browser doesn’t work, try closing and reopening it.
File
The noun file in IT refers to a collection of data or information organized under a specific
name and stored in a computer’s folder.

Sample sentence: Please save each year’s sales data in a different file for easy reference.

File is also commonly used to talk about things related to a file such as filename, file size,
etc.

Sample sentence: What’s the filename you used to save last year’s sales data?
Blog
Do you have a blog? The noun blog refers to a website where you write about your
personal experiences, opinions and interests.

Sample sentence: Our company’s blog offers a lot of useful information and tips on how
to use our products in different ways.

The verb to blog simply means to write a blog.

Sample sentence: Since everyone in our department is too busy to blog for the company,
management has hired a few part-timers to do the job.
Back up
The phrasal verb back up is often used in IT to mean making a copy of data and files to protect them
against accidental loss.

Sample sentence: It’s always a good idea to back up your computer regularly.

Back up is a separable phrasal verb that can be used with a pronoun.

Sample sentence: My laptop has been switching itself on and off. I think I’d better back it up after work
tonight.

Backup, when spelled as one word, is a noun referring to the copy of files and data that you’ve made to
keep.

Sample sentence: The system administrator does a full backup of the system every weekend
Perform
In IT, we’re often concerned about how the computer system performs. The verb to
perform refers to how fast a computer can process information.

Sample sentence: Are you sure that my computer will perform better if I upgrade my
RAM (computer memory)?

The noun performance is used to talk about the speed and capacity (workload) of the
computer..

Sample sentence: Upgrade your RAM (computer memory) and you won’t find any reason
to complain about your computer’s performance
@ : at
_ : underscore
. : dot
– : hyphen
* : asterisk
/ : forward-slash
\ : back-slash
() : parentheses
ABC : Upper-case
abc : lower-case
# : hash
[ ] : brackets
= : equals
FB : Facebook
G+ : Google+
DM : Direct
message
PM : private
message
ASAP : as soon as
possible
CUL : see you later
HAND : have a nice
day
HRU : How are you
LOL : laughing out
loud
LTNS : long time
no see
MU : I miss you
IC : I see
Address
(noun): a string of letters/numbers that identifies the location of a website/webpage (for
example https://www.example.com/page) or the destination for email messages (for
example user@example.com). - Let me have your email address and I'll send you the
details.
Admin
(abbreviation): administrator
Administrator
(noun): a person responsible for day-to-day running and operation of a website etc. - If
you lose your password and can contact the admin staff for help.
App
(abbreviation): application (especially when downloaded to and used on a mobile
device). - I want to install that app on my phone.
Application
(noun): in computing, a software program that runs a particular operation. - Have you
downloaded that new database application yet?
Avatar
(noun): an icon or symbol representing a particular person in an internet forum or video
game etc. - You've got such a cool new avatar for your profile. I love it!
Bookmarks
(noun): favourites; a record (usually in a browser) of preferred website links for easy
access. - I've got so many bookmarks in my browser that it's usually quicker to just google
the site I want!
Browser
(noun): an application on computer, smartphone and other devices for connecting to the
internet and navigating between webpages. - Most smartphones come with a default
browser (like Safari on iPhone) but if you prefer you can easily install some other browser
to use instead.
Cache
(noun): temporary storage or memory from which high-speed retrieval is possible. - You
may need to clear your browser cache if you keep getting the old data.
case-sensitive
(adjective): making a difference between CAPITAL letters (upper-case) and small letters
(lower-case). - Be careful, the password is case-sensitive so PaSsWoRd is not the same as
password or PASSWORD.
Cloud computing
(noun): the practice of using online applications and services hosted on the internet
rather than in local or personal computers. - I rely on cloud computing to backup my
photos so if I lose my phone I don't lose my pics.
Clickbait
(noun): sensational content or headlines specifically written to encourage visitors to click.
- Don't click on that trash. It's just clickbait for the gullible.
Cookie
(noun): a small file that a webserver installs on your computer or device to identify and
track you. - I just checked my browser and it says there are 74 cookies in use on this
website.
developer, web developer
(noun): a programmer who builds and maintains websites. - A web developer is more
involved in the coding and scripting side of websites while a webmaster tends to look
after the content.
digital communication
(noun): transfer of information using digital signals (both wired and wireless). - Email
sent over the internet is an example of digital communication.
Hack
(verb): gain unauthorized access to a website, database, email etc. - His email was easily
hacked because he used a very simple password.

hacker (noun): a person who hacks and gains unauthorized access to internet systems. -
The police think it was a group of foreign hackers that stole the money through the
bank's website.
IP address
(noun): a unique address or string of characters that identifies each device on the
internet. - People often say "IP" instead of "IP address" in full. For example "What's your
IP?"
Meme
(noun): a (usually funny) image, video, text etc that is copied and spread rapidly by
internet users. - Memes are like little thought bombs that capture people's imagination
for a time.
Phishing
(noun): the fraudulent practice of sending fake emails apparently from reputable
companies like your bank, to induce you to reveal personal information such as credit
card details and passwords. - Be on the lookout for scam phishing emails - if in doubt go
direct to the official website or phone a number you know.
WWW
(abbreviation): world wide web; often used as part of a website address, for example
https://www.englishclub.com
World Wide Web, world wide web (noun): information system on the internet that allows
pages (documents) to be connected to other pages by hypertext links, such that users can
search for information by moving from one page to another page; the web for short. -
The first time I saw the World Wide Web I was immediately struck by the opportunities
for sharing knowledge world-wide.
Spammer
(noun): a person who generates spam. - Our company is currently warning staff to avoid
the latest trick by spammers to gather email addresses.
 Phrasal verbs
about technology
Power
to provide a machine with energy and the ability to operate

The battery could power an electric car for 600 miles on a single charge.
Electricity costs less than gasoline, so powering an electric vehicle is cheaper
Power up
if a machine, computer, etc. powers up, or if someone powers it up, it is switched on or
prepared so that it is ready to be used:

Simply power up your laptop and continue work

This computer only takes seconds to power up.
Power off/down

If something that needs power or energy powers down, or if someone powers it down, it
is turned off:
Power down your phone and remove the SIM
Do not power off or reboot in the middle of the update.
Log (verb)
If you log an event or fact, you record it officially in writing or on a computer.
They log everyone and everything that comes in and out of here.
The police have logged several complaints about loud parties in that building.
Log in
When someone logs in or logs on, or logs into a computer system, they start using the
system, usually by typing their name or identity code and a password.
What is the user name and password that you use to log in?
If you are already a registered user, please log in.
I logged in to my Twitter account.
Log off
To perform the actions that allow you to finish using a computer system, application or
online account.

Log off before switching the computer off.

Make sure you log off your account on public computers.
Sign
To write your name, usually on a written or printed document, to show that you agree
with its contents or have written or created it yourself:
Sign here, please.
He signed his name at the end of the letter
Sign in
to sign your name in a book in order to be allowed to enter a building such as an office or
hotel:
New security measures require all visitors to sign in at the reception desk and wear a visitor's
badge.
to enter your personal details into a website, etc. so that you can use it:
You will need your username and password to sign in.
Users have to sign in to the site, leaving their name and e-mail address.
Sign out
To sign your name in a book when you leave a building such as an office or factory:
Don't forget to sign out before you leave.
To leave a website, etc. so that you have to enter your personal details again the next
time you want to use it:
If you are using a public computer, sign out of email rather than just clicking out of the
screen.
When you've finished using internet banking, sign out and close your browser
Sign off
To end a conversation or a television or radio broadcast.
She signed off the phone call because she felt a bit tired and wanted to go to sleep
Sign up
To arrange to take a course of study by adding your name to the list of people who are
taking it
You can sign up online for language classes.
She signed up for an online dating service
Hack into
enter a computer or network illegally
Someone hacked into my bank and stole millions of dollars.