What I Would Like to Do

Abstract

When you are studying a reading passage or if you have picked up a Spanish magazine or newspaper, how do you cope with words you don’t know or a structure you don’t recognise? Firstly, it’s a good idea to look at any accompanying photographs or pictures which will help you put the material in context. Look at the title of the piece or the by-lines. They often summarise the content of the text. Study the first and last paragraphs — the first paragraph tells you what the article will be about, and the last paragraph usually contains a brief summary or conclusion. Then read the rest of the article through, out loud if necessary, to get the drift. Once you have a general idea of the meaning, work through paragraphs, sentences and then individual words. Even if you don’t know a particular word, you can often guess its meaning from its context: it helps to work out whether it is a noun or a verb. If it’s an adjective, which noun does it go with? Use both grammatical and contextual clues. Note down any words or phrases which you find useful or interesting.