Extensive Reading Kinds of Reading a. Intensive Reading

a. Reading to Search for Simple Information and to Skim

In reading to search, scanning for a specific word, or a specific piece of information, or a few representative phrases is commonly used by reader. For example, when we look for address or telephone number in Yellow Pages or when we read a dictionary, looking for the word meaning. Skimming is also commonly used by reader and it is a useful skill when we are about to read unfamiliar and long text. We look for the important information then combine them with our comprehension skill to generate the outline of the text.

b. Reading to Learn from Text

Reading to learn from text means that the reader needs to learn significant amount of information from a text. The reader have to remember main ideas and supporting ideas of the text, then organize them to build understanding and connect them to their base knowledge. Reading to learn allows reader to read the text again and reflecting to help remember information because it needs deeper comprehension to connect the information with base knowledge.

c. Reading to Integrate Information, Write and Critique Texts

Reading to integrate information means that we make a new conclusion based on the supporting and conflicting information we read, and then combine them with other source of information. Reader can decide which information to integrate and how they are going to integrate them for their own purpose. Reading to write and reading to critique is a part of the reading to integrate because both of them requires the skill to choose, critique and arrange information from a text.

d. Reading for General Comprehension

Reading for general comprehension mostly known as the ability to understand information of the text but the comprehension ability is much more complex than that. It needs a quick and automated process of words then strong skills in making a general meaning in main ideas and efficient reading in such limited time.

7. Problems of Reading

Some students might fail at reading unlike other students. There are many things that can cause this to happen. It could be physical or mental factor furthermore it could be the situation or bad habits that develop unconsciously by students in their early years. In this section, problems of reading will be divided into six parts, common reading problems, physical factor reading disability, intellectual factor, emotional factor, sociocultural factor, and school factor. 13 a. Physical factor reading disability Students with low reading rates or lacking on certain understanding of text could be having a physical condition called dyslexia. Dyslexia is a condition where a person has difficulties in decoding alphabet and thus resulting in difficulties when reading words. Children who suffer brain damage at birth will find difficulties in reading word symbols too. They get confused with letters and affect their perception on it which resulting in interference with word recognition. Most of the case, children with brain damage are easily distracted and hyperactive, only high skilled teachers can successfully teaching them to read. b. Intellectual Factors In a group of children with high intellect, they tend to be a good reader. They can do several tasks that require reading with no problem. While children with average intellectual, they have some difficulties in reading task and have no problem in task that requires no reading. The ability to remember sequence of letters and words could be a factor in learning to read. Teacher can help students improving their ability to manage visual symbols. 13 Robert Karlin. Teaching Elementary Reading: Third Edition. New York: Harcourt BRACE Jovanovich Inc., 1980, p. 448.