In the 2nd English Course you’ll learn background knowledge about the topic from the video story. You’ll learn and practice key vocabulary words before the reading activity. You’ll find a variety of topics about the challenges and opportunities in our society, including education, workplace and community issues, health and safety and many more.
In our intermediate courses, 2nd English Course and Practice English and Reading, the readings have longer and more complex sentences. Reading to Learn English for Intermediate Levels You’ll need to use these reading skills to find the answers to the USA Learns comprehension questions! Reading comprehension requires vocabulary knowledge, background knowledge, and thinking skills. But, be careful! The answers are not always the exact words from the reading text. A good learning strategy is to listen to the speaker several times as you read along with the text.ĭid you understand what you read? Check your understanding of main ideas and details in the comprehension activities. You’ll hear the pronunciation of all the words on the screen when you click the Listen button. The picture helps you with comprehension and to learn English words that might be new. In the 1st English Course reading activities, the sentences are short with some key vocabulary. Pictures are an important aid to comprehension for students who are just beginning to learn English. We say a picture is worth a thousand words. Reading to Learn English in the 1st English Course You learn the meaning and practice the pronunciation of the most important words that you will later read in video scripts and reading lessons. This is one reason that new vocabulary is presented and practiced at the beginning of each USA Learns unit. Reading comprehension is easier if you already know the keywords in the reading. Reading also provides repetition of vocabulary words you have already learned to help you remember them. Reading is the best way to improve your vocabulary! The context of articles, stories, and conversations helps you figure out and understand the meaning of English words in the text that are new to you.