Principles of Reading

There are certain principles that characterize the process of reading.  An understanding of these principles can assist teachers of ESOL students in making written content knowledge accessible to their students and facilitating the literacy acquisition process for them.  The following list includes some of the principles of reading that are considered most important:

• Understanding a reading involves having a certain schema or framework with which to understand that reading.  This often includes cultural knowledge that is not already possessed by second language readers.
• Understanding a reading involves having knowledge of the specific technical vocabulary that is used in the reading.  Although these words may already be known to native speakers, it could be the first time that ESOL students encounter them.
• Understanding a reading and retaining the important information from that reading involves having a purpose for reading.  This involves linking the reading to the students' own needs or interests in some way so that there is a clear understanding of the value of the text and an appreciation for the content material.

 

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