Improving Reading Skills In The Digital Age

Many of us have become accustomed to receiving bite-sized information via social media feeds, news apps, and other digital platforms of today's fast-paced world. Some people, especially those in younger generations, no longer prioritize reading as much as they once did due to the popularity of smartphones and tablets. But reading is still an important ability for academic, professional, and personal development. This article is intended to help people who are preparing for an English language proficiency test (IELTS, TOEFL, PTE, DET, OET, etc) or the ones who just want to become better at reading.

Here are a few tips for learners who want to improve their reading skills and have some fun at the same time:

1.  Become conscious of what is on screen

Unlike the traditional advice of reducing screen time, young learners should consider becoming more conscious of what they are consuming through their screens. One must make a gradual transition from short and superficial content to something longer and more insightful. This should also include a smooth shift from audio-visual content to purely textual content.

2.  Use text-to-speech tools

Text-to-speech technology can convert text into spoken audio. Some of the free tools on the internet can also read aloud PDFs, websites, and books using natural AI voices. Reading text while following the voice can help in building a reading appetite while making it an immersive experience.

3.  Use generative AI to test comprehension skills

Several generative AI tools like ChatGPT can generate texts, prepare questions and assess your responses. Here’s a sample prompt that you can use as an example: “I'm trying to improve my reading skills. Can you give me an academic text of around 300 words and ask three objective questions about it?” After the text and the questions have been generated, you can even respond to the questions and ask for verification. For example, your prompt can be “My answer to the first question is (your answer). Is that correct?”

4.  Write about what you read

If you write a summary of what you’ve read, it brings more intent to your reading practice. This will help you to organize your thoughts and to identify the main points of the text. Writing about what you're reading should be an enjoyable experience. If you're not having fun, it will show in your writing. Writing by hand also boosts creativity, reduces distractions, and improves fine motor skills.

Hope this encourages you to build a habit of reading. Avoid taking up big reading commitments from the get-go. Start with as little as possible and make gradual increments.

 

Written by
Mr. Hiren Panjwani
Training Manager,
Akshay Study Abroad Consultants