The Importance of Language Comprehension in Learning
Language comprehension is the foundation of successful learning, particularly in literacy-based subjects and courses. It goes beyond decoding words on a page—it's about understanding and making meaning of what is read. Without strong language comprehension skills, students may struggle to grasp the content, regardless of their ability to read the words themselves.
Comprehension involves a complex interplay of vocabulary knowledge, background information, inferencing skills, and understanding of text structure. These elements work together to enable students not only to read but also to think critically about texts, make connections, and engage deeply with content.
When students struggle to grasp content, the root cause is often a lack of language comprehension related to the new learning. Here are four easy-to-use ideas to help remove this barrier to learning:
- Activate prior knowledge by linking the new learning to examples, metaphors, and analogies.
- Start with a short video to introduce a new concept or idea. Engage students in a brief discussion with 3-5 questions to encourage them to talk about the new idea.
- Plan specific check-for-understanding points within the lesson. Engage students in turn-and-talks that require them to use new vocabulary in meaningful ways.
- Have students create a visual that shows the new concept related to other known concepts.
(See more ideas on the playbook page below.)
By pre-assessing and intentionally planning scaffolds, we can eliminate barriers and help students become more confident and capable learners, setting them up for success across all subject areas.