Reading Between the Lines: Comprehension Strategies for Non-Native Speakers
Reading, as every experienced language learner eventually discovers, is a wonderfully deceptive activity. At first glance it appears reassuringly straightforward. The words remain politely still on the page, unlike spoken English, which has an unfortunate habit of racing past at the speed of a commuter train. You may reread a sentence as many times as you like without the author tapping their foot impatiently. Dictionaries stand ready to assist. There is no pressure to answer immediately, no awkward silence while you search for the correct word, and certainly no risk of accidentally ordering three coffees instead of one. And yet reading in another language possesses its own peculiar challenges. Every learner has experienced that moment of triumph upon reaching the end of a page, only to realise they have absorbed almost nothing beyond the fact that someone named Mr Jenkins appears deeply concerned about something. The eyes have travelled faithfully across every sentence while...
