2.4 General Concept of Reading
2.4.1 Definition of Reading
There are four language skills that the students have to master, they are listening, speaking, reading, and writing. The skill which has the greatest using at the end of
language study is reading. Reading is defined and described in a variety of ways. Some linguists gave some definitions of reading that may help us to get clearer
definition. According to Anthony and Richards 1976: 144-145 “reading is not a single skill but a process comprising a complex set of inter-related skills”. These
involve: 1 word recognition and the mastery of basic vocabulary and such technical or specialized vocabulary as may from time to time be required; 2 the
intelligence necessary to follow the thought sentences, paragraphs, and longer passages that constitute the thought units; 3 the intelligence necessary to follow
the thought development thus presented and make any relevant deductions, inferences, or critical assessments; 4 the ability to concentrate on the reading
task. Grabe and Stoller 2002:4 also stated that reading is one important way to improve the general language skills in English.
Therefore, reading is one of the skills in learning a language, and it needs the mastery of some elements as stated by Linse below,
Reading is a set of skills that involves making sense and deriving meaning from the printed word. In order to read we must be able to decode sound
out the printed words and also comprehend what we read. For second language learners there are three different elements which impact reading:
the child’s background knowledge, the child’s linguistic knowledge of the target language, and the strategies or techniques the child uses to tackle the
text 2006: 69.
As there are many definitions of reading, the writer tries to summarize them as follows; first, the object of reading activity is graphic symbols. Second, reading
is interpreting graphic symbols, which involves an interaction between the writer and the reader. Third, in reading process, there are two essential things involved,
i.e.: word recognition and comprehension. The first one refers to the ability to give meaning to a printed symbol. The second refers to the ability to understand
and apply the material. Reading has some advantages: 1 reading helps to learn and think in the
new language; 2 reading helps to build a better vocabulary; 3 reading makes learners comfort with the written English; 4 reading may be the only way to use
English if you live in a non-English-speaking country; 5 reading can help you if you plan to study in an English-speaking country.
2.5 English at Elementary School
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