Reading

Read English texts every day. (for example: news, short stories, novels, texts from your textbook, movie subtitles, graded readers, ILC packages, and the online ILC. Choose an interesting text that is not too difficult for you.) Don’t check every new word – even without a dictionary, you will understand a lot. Concentrate on what you do understand and try to find out the rest by intelligent guessing. That works rather well, especially if you are interested in the topic.  //**!**// **//Learning Tip - don't try to understand every word. Try to understand the overall meaning of a sentence or text.//** //**!**// **//Learning Tip -//** **//don't translate - only use a dictionary if you see the word again and you still don't understand it.//** //**!**// **//Learning Tip -//** **//don't just read a text once and then forget about it - try to analyse it.//**

SKIMMING AND SCANNING SKILLS To skim a text = to read fast, trying to get the general idea To scan a text = to read fast, looking for specific details These skills will help you to work faster!

WEBSITES FOR READING PRACTICE: http://breakingnewsenglish.com - you can choose a story, read the text first, then answer the True/False questions lower down the page.

IELTS Reading tests http://www.ielts-exam.net/index.php?option=com_content&task=section&id=15&Itemid=64

Do bicycle helmet laws lead to the low popularity of Melbourne's bike share scheme? This article from The Age compares the success of similar bike share schemes in cities around the world. (there are also some good examples of readers' opinions, below the main article.)

Here is the government's proposed solution! What do you think?

Read the following article: How cat has earned Japanese city millions 270 words


 * Can you find: ** An adjective which means “cat”


 * Guess the meaning of the vocabulary: **
 * stray
 * cash rolling in
 * In lieu of
 * Unmanned
 * To turn (a situation) around


 * Discussion: ** Do you know of any other animals who earn money?

__BONUS reading__ [] Find the cause, effect and "solution" mentioned by Robert Doyle


 * Newspapers are a great way to improve your reading skills.**

Try to answer these questions by reading the article below:
 * 1) What was George studying?
 * 2) What happened to his arm?
 * 3) How old is he now?
 * 4) What can he do?
 * 5) Where does he live?
 * 6) Where did he travel?
 * 7) What film experience has he had?

=George Symeou has a firm grip on life= Ruth Lamperd From: [|Herald Sun], January 05, 2011 []

Here's another article [] (Note: "st" = stone, which is about 6kg) You can put answers below the questions, or email to Nathan (nathan.chapman@rmit.edu.au)
 * 1) How heavy is Donna now?
 * 2) What is her goal?
 * 3) How does her partner feel?
 * 4) How does she earn money?
 * 5) Why was she unhappy as a teenager on a diet?
 * 6) What frightened her about losing weight?
 * 7) What is your opinion about the last two sentences?