Reading In English Essay

The Teaching of English Reading and Writing to Adolescents

One of the fundamental pillars in the newly established Icelandic National Curriculum is literacy or having the ability to read and write. The ability to effectively read and write in today´s society is closely associated with learners' educational aspects and later their likelihood of getting a good job. However, our contemporary computerized and globalized world requires us to acquire these skills in English too. Hereafter, I will briefly examine how reading and writing in English are effectively taught to adolescents and why these methods should be applied. However, first I will briefly consider two studies that focus on how reading and writing is taught in Iceland.

In 2006, Helga

Reading extensively involves giving learners the option of choosing their texts and reading at their own speed. For many it is a more pleasurable way of reading. In using this method, a teacher has the important role of influencing learners to read by introducing them to either simplified or unsimplified text, depending on their reading level. Most importantly, teachers need to ensure that learners understand the beneficial aspects of reading extensively. By helping them set realistic goals and familiarizing them with various types of texts, learners will enhance their word recognition and, as a result, experience more pleasure out of reading without having to constantly stop reading due to lack of

This method has proven to enhance reading fluency and writing as well. Since many unknown words in texts can interfere with learners´ comprehension, deliberately pre-teaching new words, grammar forms and reading strategies can enhance learners´ proficiency faster. This approach is not only efficient but also effective as it helps learners acquire better vocabulary. However, although deliberate learning has proven to be more efficient than incidental learning through extensive reading, Nation (2001) emphasizes that intensive reading should not be regarded as extensive readings adversary, but a supporting method to enhance vocabulary (p.