| Comprehension must be acquired if you are | | | | readings using the few things that you know. |
| reading especially when it comes to foreign | | | | Read through all the headlines, stick to the topic |
| languages. | | | | sentences, look for emphasized sections and |
| One of the best ways to prepare yourself for a | | | | jump to useful summaries when they're available. |
| trip to a host country is to get acquainted with | | | | 3. Use both top-down and bottom-up techniques. |
| the language. While there are limitations to how | | | | It helps you get more familiar with the nuances of |
| much you can learn from a language practice | | | | a language when you read the same text in |
| program given your schedule, you can | | | | varying ways. They really do tend to highlight |
| complement that by doing foreign language | | | | different things about your topic. |
| readings in your spare time. | | | | 4. Give the dictionary a rest. You will be tempted |
| Here's how you can make the most of it. | | | | throughout your reading to keep referring to the |
| | | | dictionary. Resist it. Instead, draw context clues |
| 1. Decide why you need to read a particular piece. | | | | and use them to guess meanings. You'll learn |
| If you have no strong reason in mind, it's so easy | | | | better that way. |
| to get disheartened and give up. Find a reason | | | | 5. Learn to read context. Being able to discern |
| and remind yourself of it. | | | | context in foreign reading materials helps clue you |
| 2. Learn to skim. Even with limited facility in the | | | | in on many cultures and behaviors in the host |
| target language, you can skim through your | | | | country. You'll be glad you did. |