The state or quality of being literate or the ability to use language proficiently is what makes a student stand out. A student needs to possess above-average literacy skills such as listening, writing, and speaking.

Just like any other skill, reading requires practicing. It has been a problem for some college students because they lack comprehension skills. However, there is always room for improvement; you can find texts at an essay company that has organized a few strategies you can adopt to improve your literacy skills. As a college student, you need to work smartly on improving your literacy skills.

You cannot compare high school to college reading. High school students can easily pass their exams by being attentive and taking notes in class. The same can’t be done in college; you need to brush up on your reading skills. Also, in this article, you will find some proven strategies that will help improve your literacy and comprehension skills.

Find your distraction-free reading corner

Your learning style should determine your reading environment because where you read greatly affects how easily you grasp the material. An environment with fewer or no distractions will increase your concentration. These factors are to be considered when choosing a reading spot:

  • Distraction: Commitment and hard work are vital keys to improving your literacy. Avoid any means of distraction. Cell phones have been identified as the major means of distraction for students when studying. Mute all notifications and suspend replying to messages. More also, the environment must be noise-free.
  • Atmosphere: Your environment must be conducive. Find a spot with good lighting and a cool breeze. Provision can be made in the absence of either.
  • Comfort: Do you have a comfortable table and chair? Do you prefer reading with background music? Whether you are at home or in a library, ensure you have a comfortable reading desk and provision for everything necessary.

Preview the book or reading material

Take a few minutes to survey the material before you dive deep into reading. Familiarize yourself with your materials by asking yourself questions such as; What’s the topic? What is the book about? What can you learn from the book? Also, before you start, check the table of contents, glossary, and introduction.

For better comprehension, start your reading from the introduction; this will give you a clearer idea of the material.

Keep a pen with you

You must keep a pen with you while at it. Make use of a pen to highlight important keywords, facts, figures, and strange phrases you encounter while reading. Look up the meaning of marked difficult or unfamiliar words. This will help improve your vocabulary. Benjamin Franklin said, “you should never read a book without a pen in your hand.”

Adopt smart starting strategies

Don’t be overwhelmed by your materials; divide your materials into sections. If your reading seems frightening, you can use these strategies to keep things under control.

  • Create smaller sections: Breaking down into smaller sections will help you understand easily. You can divide it by pages, topics, or subtopics. Go through each section carefully and check for key points.
  • Timing: Avoid being carried away on a particular topic. Estimate your time to be used on each segment. This will help you learn how to read fast.
  • Evaluation: Constantly ask yourself questions to know whether you understand or not. After you finish each section or topic, take a little time to check for understanding. Doing so will help know if you understand the material you read. If not, try again.

Write notes and ask questions as you read

College book is different from reading novels; it requires great diligence. Don’t assume you’ve understood your materials. The best way to check for understanding is by taking notes as you read and occasionally asking yourself questions.

This is advisaby done with a pen at hand and a book to jot down key points of each chapter. Bullet points, outlining, and mind mapping are other note-taking techniques you can use.

This will improve your comprehension.

Take breaks

Reading everything at one go is a bad idea. It is advisable to take a break as you read. Take a break after each section. This will help to relieve the brain from stress.

Conclusion

One of the goals of college education is for you to pick up healthy learning habits that can serve through life. College life is not just about attending classes and social events; when you incorporate effective strategies that aids learning, you can easily apply them to your career growth. There are other strategies that has worked for people and you can begin with the tips above.