• RAAJITHA RACHURI

English language acquisition process has undergone several changes and has been re-assessed by many an expert and now most of them are of the opinion that reading literary texts provides rich linguistic input and stimulates the students/learners to practice and enhance the four language skills, listening, speaking, reading, and writing, in addition to instantiating grammar, word and sentence structures, and learning new vocabulary. Reading a text is considered an important skill in the English language acquisition process. The teacher plays a great role in bringing out the efficiencies of the learner/student when it comes to teaching-learning English language. There have been many theories laid down by various theorists and linguists in the teaching process. However, the teacher can choose any strategy in order to bring the desired results. We are now undergoing the stressful days staying indoors due to the rapid spread of Covid. It is time for the teachers to assist their students even during the pandemic times to enrich the language skills through virtual platforms. This is a technological era and the learners have to put in a conscious effort to understand and apply what has been learnt in academics with the help of available technological equipments. Reading is done for both pleasure and information. Active reading enables a learner to learn more. It also enables the learners to develop critical thinking abilities that are helpful for everyone at all stages to encounter the problems that arise in an individual’s life. It is here that learning process becomes challenging. Reading is not an easy process as felt. Reading comprehension is rather a difficult task and is to be developed in a planned and strategic manner. The present paper provides an overview of the importance of reading skills, reading comprehension, the problems encountered by the students while comprehending passages and ways for improving comprehension skills.

Key words: reading skill, reading comprehension, intensive and extensive reading, skimming, scanning, critical thinking skills, language enrichment etc.

"ENRICHMENT OF LANGUAGE AND CRITICAL THINKING SKILLS THROUGH BOOK READING", International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (www.jetir.org), ISSN:2349-5162, Vol.8, Issue 6, page no.d119-d125, June-2021, Available :http://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIR2106417.pdf

"ENRICHMENT OF LANGUAGE AND CRITICAL THINKING SKILLS THROUGH BOOK READING", International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (www.jetir.org | UGC and issn Approved), ISSN:2349-5162, Vol.8, Issue 6, page no. ppd119-d125, June-2021, Available at : http://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIR2106417.pdf