Beginning and intermediate ESL readers can benefit from reading strategies including a method in which the teacher introduces the written material before the student reads. Skimming the passage is another previewing technique, and outlining, which requires the student to identify the main idea of the passage along with supporting points and details, is particularly effective. Answering questions about the author's purpose and tone is another way to improve reading comprehension.
The SQ3R Method instructs students to survey written material by noting text conventions like chapter titles and subheadings. To engage the student and connect with his or her previous knowledge, the student then formulates questions about the text, using the questioning words "who, what, when, how and why." If this proves difficult, the student can turn titles and headings into questions. The student then reads the chapter carefully, writing down answers to the questions. The SQ3R exercise is completed with a review of the chapter. Summarizing the main points in a paragraph is helpful for this final step.
Worksheets can reinforce skills and improve reading comprehension. Students can practice their reading skills by answering multiple choice questions, matching, unscrambling sentences, and filling in the blank. Worksheets are often centered on a particular topic, such as restaurants, travel, dating, shopping or entertainment. Worksheets might relate to idioms, slang and phrases. One interesting worksheet asks students to fill in the word "hot" or "cold" to complete a phrase correctly. Examples are giving someone the cold shoulder, getting cold feet, selling like hot cakes, to be hot-headed, or breaking out in a cold sweat.