Reading comprehension is the ability to read text, process it and
understand its meaning. An individual's ability to comprehend text is
influenced by their traits and skills, one of which is the ability to
make inferences. If word recognition is difficult, students use too much
of their processing capacity to read individual words,
which interferes with their ability to comprehend what is read. There
are a number of approaches to improve reading comprehension, including
improving one's vocabulary and reading strategies.
Definition :
Definition :
Reading comprehension is defined as the level of understanding of a
text/message. This understanding comes from the interaction between the
words that are written and how they trigger knowledge outside the
text/message. Comprehension is a "creative, multifaceted process" dependent upon four language skills: phonology, syntax, semantics, and pragmatics. Proficient reading depends on the ability to recognize words quickly and effortlessly.
It is also determined by an individual's cognitive development, which
is "the construction of thought processes". Some people learn through
education or instruction and others through direct experiences. There are specific traits that determine how successfully an
individual will comprehend text, including prior knowledge about the
subject, well developed language, and the ability to make inferences.
Having the skill to monitor comprehension is a factor: "Why is this
important?" and "Do I need to read the entire text?" are examples.
Lastly, is the ability to be self-correcting to solve comprehension
problems as they arise.
