When you read for general information, you want to understand the main idea of the text. You do not need to remember every small detail. You just need to know what the text is mostly about.

How to Find the Main Idea

• Read the whole text first
• Ask yourself: What is this text about?
• Look for the most important message

Example from the Textbook

Read this paragraph:

"In Tanzania, there are many national parks where different animals live. Tourists from different countries come to see the animals. Some of the animals you can see are elephants, lions, and zebras."

The main idea is: Tanzania has national parks where tourists can see animals.

The other sentences support this idea, but the main point is about national parks in Tanzania.

When you read for specific information, you look for exact details. You might need to find:

• A name (e.g., who did something)
• A number (e.g., how many, what time)
• A place (e.g., where something happened)
• A date (e.g., when something happened)

How to Find Specific Information

• Know what you are looking for before you read
• Read carefully and look for the exact answer
• Do not need to read everything—just find what you need

Example from the Textbook

Read this passage:

"Serengeti National Park is famous for its wildlife. It has over 4,000 lions and it was established in 1951. Many tourists visit the park each year."

Specific information to find:

• Name of the park: Serengeti National Park
• Number of lions: 4,000
• Year established: 1951

Tips for Fluent Reading

• Read aloud every day
• Read in groups with your classmates
• Ask your teacher to model (show you how) first
• Practice with different types of texts: stories, conversations, dialogues, and passages

Try This Example

Read the conversation between Kidoti and her mother:

Mother: You are so late today! What happened? Daughter: The teacher took us to a practical session and we finished it late.

General information: Kidoti came home late because of a school activity.

Specific information: What time did she finish? Around 5 p.m.

In everyday life in Tanzania, you use these reading skills when you read road signs to find your way, read price tags at the market to know how much goods cost, or read SMS messages about mobile money transactions. For example, when you receive an SMS from M-Pesa showing you received TZS 50,000, you read for specific information to find the exact amount and the time of the transaction.