English Tip: Reading Right
The oral component of the English exam is usually not prioritised above Paper 1 and 2, and the reading component even less so. However, the reading component makes up 5% of the total score and should not be neglected. In fact, it’s very possible to achieve a full 10 marks for it!
Tip 1: Speed
The first and most common issue is reading speed. Many students sprint through the text, eager to get it over with. This is a very bad mistake. Reading at a slow and relaxed pace lends to increased accuracy, intelligibility and allows for breathing. This is the foundation of reading. It is simple, but difficult for students at the same time.
I find that 80 beats per minute is an ideal speed. We don’t all carry a metronome around, so I hum the chorus of MAGIC!’s Rude, which is roughly 80 bpm, in my head.
Tip 2: Pauses
Pauses give the sentence proper phrasing and allow for breathing. Students who have a bad habit of reading long sentence strings without pauses often find themselves out of breath somewhere at the end and are forced to pause to take a breath. This breaks the rhythm of the sentence and will sound awkward.
The most basic place to pause when reading is at punctuations ( , . ! ? : ). This is a must!
Another place to pause is between clauses. Some of us do this quite naturally. For the others who don’t: The ends of noun phrases and verb phrases are good places to pause.
For example: This is the playful dog (short pause) that I recently bought (short pause) from the store.
Tip 3: Expressions
Every reading text given in the exams at primary level has dialogue. Students can net a few bonus marks by putting in a bit more energy or varying the pitch to differentiate the dialogue from the rest of the text. There isn’t a need to read in a different voice. However, being able to convey the emotions of the speaker when reading is a definite plus. Conversely, reading in an inappropriate tone will cause marks to be lost.
Listen to a short clip of me reading the short passage below. Listen to the speed of the reading, where I pause, and how I differentiate the dialogue from the rest of the text.
Bonus Tip: Warming Up
Inaccurate reading is usually the result of a stiff tongue, cheeks and lips. Without sufficient movement from these body parts, it is very difficult to articulate. This warm-up is ridiculous looking, but highly effective.
- Find a private place where nobody can see or hear you.
- Stick your tongue out as far as it can go.
- Recite the ABCs
It’s as simple as that. Make sure that your tongue is extended as far as it can go and that your face and mouth are exaggerating the forming of the sounds. Of course, nobody really speaks like that, but if you stretch your face 100% during the warm-up, you should achieve about 80% of the articulation when actually reading.
As with any skill, reading takes practice, practice and practice. Get your child to try out these tips these few weeks before their oral exams. I’m sure they’ll notice the difference!
Looking for tuition for your child? Let us know how Mister Meister can help by filling up this form.
Recent Comments