Guessing meaning from context
No matter what level our students are in, they will often come across difficult words in texts they are exposed to. Inferring and guessing meanings of unfamiliar words is a strategy which is worth developing.
Guessing from context refers to the ability to infer the meaning of an expression using contextual clues. These clues may be purely linguistic or situational:
- Linguistic context: the linguistic environment in which a word is used within a text
- Situational context: extra linguistic elements that contribute to the construction of meaning this may involve background knowledge of the subject.
- the meaning of vocabulary items that surrounds it;
- the way the word is formed;
- background knowledge of the subject and the situation.
Techniques for guessing
Texts are often full of redundancy and consequently students can use the relation between different items within a text to get the meaning. Our prior knowledge of the world may also contribute to understand what an expression means.- Synonyms and definitions:
- Kingfishers are a group of small to medium-sized brightly colored birds
- When he made insolent remarks towards his teacher they sent him to the principal for being disrespectful
- Antonym and contrast
- He loved her so much for being so kind to him. By contrast, he abhorred her mother
- Cause and effect
- He was disrespectful towards other members. That’s why he was sent off and penalized.
- Parts of speech
- Whether the word is a noun, a verb, an adjective or an adverb, functioning as a subject, a predicate or a complement.
- Examples
- Trojan is an example of a computer virus
- Word forms (the morphological properties of the word)
- Getting information from affixes (prefixes and suffixes) to understand a word. Examples: dis- (meaning not), –less (meaning without)…
- General knowledge
- The French constitution establishes laïcité as a system of government where there is a strict separation of church and state.
Taken from: http://www.myenglishpages.com/blog/guessing-meaning-from-context/
1. What is Reading Comprehension?
It is simply the capacity to to understand texts. However, that is a superficial definition because understanding is divided in different levels.
In one hand, you have the understanding of words individually out of context.
Like for example: Tomatoes, pasta, meat, water and grated cheese.
Individual word understanding: Tomatoes are red fruit (Yes, they are fruit, not vegetable), pasta is a solid form of grain, meat is proteinwe usually eat from animals and grated cheese is cheese made into small pieces.
And in the other hand, you have the understanding of the text as a whole.
Like for example: Tomatoes, pasta, meat, water and grated cheese.
Whole Text Understanding: These are ingredients for preparing spaghetti.
Now, these are basic examples of how comprehension can exist at different levels. The idea of reading comprehension is recognizing not only what words mean but what they make together.
2. What do you need to know for having a good reading comprehension?
- You need to know the different type of words that exist in the language and what they describe such as nouns, adjectives, etc.
- You have to understand the use of punctuation in texts. What is a period for? What is a comma for? And so on.
- You should understand a certain level of vocabulary.
- You have to know what type texts are there and how they are written.
Exercises:
A series of exercises for reading in different levels:
http://www.esl-lounge.com/student/reading-advanced.php
A collection of texts done by the British council:
http://learnenglishteens.britishcouncil.org/skills/reading-skills-practice
A set of presentations regarding different topics for reading:
http://www.cambridgeenglish.org/learning-english/activities-for-learners/?level=independent
A group of reading comprehension activities:http://www.englishmaven.org/Pages/Reading%20Comprehension.htm
Free reading tests online:
http://www.ereadingworksheets.com/e-reading-worksheets/online-reading-tests/
More free reading activities:
http://englishteststore.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=11403&Itemid=310
Finding main ideas
From E-reading worksheetshttps://www.ereadingworksheets.com/free-reading-worksheets/reading-comprehension-worksheets/main-idea-worksheets/
Exercises on main ideas and supporting details
https://www.studyguidezone.com/main-idea-worksheets.htm
Meaning from context exercises
Entry ways into college readings by Janet Elderhttp://highered.mheducation.com/sites/0073123587/student_view0/chapter3/context_clues__exercise_1.html
Worksheets on getting context from ereading worksheets
https://www.ereadingworksheets.com/free-reading-worksheets/reading-comprehension-worksheets/context-clues-worksheets/
Document to practice meaning from context
https://www.google.com.co/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=http://www.warrencountyschools.org/userfiles/1593/Context%2520Clues%2520multiple%2520choice%2520exercise.pdf&ved=2ahUKEwiswoja5dvaAhVM0VMKHdchDEMQFjADegQIBhAB&usg=AOvVaw2olPkETl3rhQ-cE_A5-WkR
Identifying Key Details
Entry Ways by Janet Elder
http://highered.mheducation.com/sites/0073123587/student_view0/chapter9/supporting_details__exercise_1.html
Reading Activities
On Adverts
https://www.examenglish.com/BEC/BEC_Vantage_reading_part1.htm
On Customer Service
https://www.examenglish.com/BEC/BEC_Vantage_reading_part2.htm
Assessment: Deconstructing an article.
Follow the steps in order to divide an article in different parts so you can analyse the style, purpose and content.1. Extract Keywords: Make a selection of 10 keywords found in the text. Write their definition based on the context in which they are used.
2. Identify Ideas: Find the Thesis Statement. Then, per each paragraph indicate the main idea and the supporting details
3. Purpose: State the author's purpose with the writing and then quote sections of it in order to support your statement.
4. Write a brief review: Write a review that answers the following questions about the article.
What is the article about?
Why is it interesting?
Who would like to read it?
Why is the information relevant?
Would you recommend it?
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