Reading is a complex and interactive process involving many different skills and brain functions. To understand what you read In addition to recognizing the words on the page, you must relate them to each other, to the context behind them, and to your previous knowledge and experience. You also need to extract the main idea and details of the text, as well as the author’s purpose, style and message.

reading comprehension; unusual vocabulary, complex sentence structures, unclear organization or lack of interest It can be difficult for many reasons. However, with some effective strategies, you can improve your understanding of reading over time and make your reading more enjoyable and meaningful.

First of all, what causes this inability to understand what you are reading?

Lack of interest or motivation

not attractive to you or for some reason you had to read When you read a book, you may not be engaged with the text. You may be reading just to finish or to fulfill an obligation. In this case, your mind may wander to what interests you more and you may miss important details of the story.

Distraction or fatigue

Noisy or in a busy environment when you are reading or when you are tired or stressed you may not be able to concentrate on the text. External stimuli such as sounds, contacts or notifications on your phone can distract you. Or you are distracted by inner thoughts such as worries, plans or memories. In this case, your attention may be distracted from the text and you may lose track of the story.

Difficulty or complexity

your reading skills or too difficult or complicated for your knowledge When you read a book, you may not understand it. You may come across unfamiliar words, concepts, or references that confuse you. Or maybe you have trouble following the structure, style or type of text. In this case, your brain may have difficulty processing information and you may not be able to understand the meaning of the text.

So what can you do to avoid or overcome this reading comprehension problem?

One of the most important strategies to improve your reading comprehension is actively reading. Active reading means interacting with the text before, during and after reading.

active readinghelps you focus your attention, set a goal for reading, act on prior knowledge, make predictions, ask questions, monitor your understanding, and review what you’ve learned.

Active reading also helps you retain and remember more information. Here are some ways to practice active reading:

Before reading:

• Know your goal: Why are you reading this text? What do you want to learn from him? How will you use the information later?
  • Knowing your goal will help you determine how much detail to pay attention to and what kind of questions to answer.
• Integrate with insider information: What do you already know about the subject or genre of the text? How does it relate to other texts or topics you read or know about? What personal experiences or opinions do you have about this?
  • By activating your prior knowledge, you can relate new information to what you already know and make it more relevant and meaningful.
• Example of the text: What can you learn from the title, subheadings, images, subtitles, summaries, or accompanying questions? What do they tell you about the main idea or theme of the text? What do they make you wonder?
  • Previewing the text will give you a general idea of ​​what to expect and make some predictions about what you’ll read.

While reading:

• Use context tips: What can you understand from words or sentences surrounding a word or concept you are not familiar with? What can you guess from the tone or mood of the text? What conclusions can you draw from the structure or organization of the text?
  • By using context clues, you can decipher the meaning of unfamiliar words or ideas without interrupting your reading flow.
• Look for the main idea: What is the author trying to tell you in each paragraph or section of the text? What is the main point or message they want to convey? How do they support it with details or examples?
  • Searching for the main idea will help you understand the overall meaning and structure of the text.
• Write a summary: How would you describe what you read in your own words? Can you fit that into a sentence or two? Can you identify keywords or phrases that capture the essence of the text?
  • Writing a summary helps you check your understanding and remember what you read.

After reading:

• Divide the reading into smaller segments: How much can you read at once without losing focus or interest? How can you break down text into manageable chunks that make sense? How can you use breaks to review what you’ve read or prepare for the next step?
  • Breaking up the reading into smaller sections will help you avoid getting overwhelmed and keep you motivated.

Reading without understanding can be frustrating and discouraging. However, a little with practice and dedication you can overcome this.