Seventh Grade Students Definition of Terms
Grobe and Stoller 2002:9 propose that reading is “the ability to draw meaning from the printed page and interpret this information appropriately”.
However, they also state that the definition itself is insufficient as a way to understand the true nature of reading abilities, because first, the definition does not
convey that there are a number of ways to engage in reading; second, the definition does not emphasize the many criteria that define the nature of fluent reading abilities;
third, the definition does not explain how reading is carried out as a cognitive process; and fourth, the definition does not highlight how the ability to draw meaning
from a text and interpret the meaning. Another view on reading comes from Nunan 2003:68. He states that reading
is “a fluent process of readers combining information from a text and their own background knowledge to build meaning. According to him, “the reader’s
background knowledge integrates with the text to create the meaning”. It means that the background knowledge of the reader does influence the reader’s interpretation of
the textual meaning. In other words, background knowledge takes an important role in the process of reading and will influence the success of reading comprehension.
Nunan 2003:68 also adds that strategic and fluent readings also play an important role in reading process. He defines strategic reading as the ability of
readers to use different kinds of reading strategies to achieve the purpose of reading, which is comprehension, and defines fluent reading as the ability for readers to read
at an appropriate rate with adequate comprehension. Therefore, the text, the reader,
The
text Fluency
Strategies The Reader
the fluency and the strategies combined together define the act of reading. Figure 2.1 is the representation of the definition of reading.
Reading
Figure 2.1 The Definition of Reading Nunan, 2003 : 68