How to improve my interest in reading? (TOEFL® preparation)

[Sumbal]

Hi Mr. Toresten,
This is sumbal.I hope you are well.Sir could you please give me some tips about improve my interest towards reading.Because I feel that whenever I sit and force myself for reading(whether on computer or some book) after two or three minutes I get distracted.How can I get rid of this habit.
I look forward to haering from you.
Regards
Sumbal Riaz

[Sarah]

Hi, I myself believe if you like the subject, you won't get bored reading it. So try to find something you really like and then start to read. Good luck

[Eda Yilmaz]

but we re talking about the exam (toefl ibt). you know, you dont have chance to choose your topic. personally, you should try to have habit to like reading. i recommend you to read new york times. it is the best academic english.

[Sumbal]

Mnay Thanks for your suggestion eda,actually the thing is that I was thinking about improving my english for Toefl (of course), and reading is very important source in this regard.
Regards
Ms.Sumbal Riaz

[Eda Yilmaz]

actually, tomorrow i have a test. and i am not good at reading at all. but i have been in the United States for 8 months. i went to Toefl and academic course. i know the strategies. but ohhh maybe i dont like studying. in addition do you have vocabulary list for reading. if you finizh that list i am sure it will help you a lot. if you cannot finde the list mail me ok... i can send you. by the way if you want we can help each other as a study partner. we can send our essays to take draft from each other. take care

[Sumbal]

Sure Why not we can be study partner.
Thanks a lot
Ms.Sumbal Riaz

[Eric948470]

Hmm, how to improve your interest in reading. If you want to improve your interest in reading in general, I think it is better to realize how reading will benefit you. There is a lot of information recorded in books, since the beginning of human civilization, and improving your ability to read and comprehend that data is obtaining access to a massive resource. But of course, it's it's boring to read stuff that is not entertaining. The best way to start improving reading is to read something that is of interest to you; like a simplified novel or biography, for example those available from the publishers Ladybird Books, or Penguin Books. Or you might want to read a beauty magazine, or a car repair manual. The important thing is to train your brain to convert the characters you see on paper in to thoughts that you understand. The more you read, the better you will get at doing this. Then, as you are able to process more and more complex information, you will find the articles that you thought were boring before, a pleasure to read. I speak from personal experience.
If you want to practice for the reading section of TOEFL, the best thing to do is to take practice tests, within the given time limitation, and in an environment closest to that you expect to be in during the actual test. It is important to grade yourself after every test. You might have trouble concentrating the first few times you practice, but as you realize how much you can improve your score if you concentrate on the text on the screen, you will begin to concentrate more and more. The purpose of doing practice tests is to train your brain to the surroundings it'll be facing during the actual test, so that it will not be stranger to those surroundings, and won't be confused and give a lower level of performance as a result. Also, some of the tasks you have to do will be automated to a certain amount, like clicking or double clicking the mouse. You'll also get used to the format of the information presented and know by experience where to look for certain information on the screen, in advance.

Wish I was of some help.

Disclaimer : This point of view was presented by a person with no experience with grading or administering exams whatsoever. He only has experience in taking exams. But he hasn't taken the TOEFL yet. Therefore he advices you not to depend upon his viewpoint, but look to feedback from others too.