In 1978, researchers at the University of Illinois conducted a study to see if culture or cultural knowledge affected reading comprehension. The study asked subjects from India and the US to read two separate passages on Indian weddings and American weddings. The result was an appropriate elaboration of the native cultures and distortions of the foreign culture. So one can safely say that culture does affect your reading and comprehension skills to a great extent. That made us think about IELTS reading and how culture affects it. This post will be a short exploration of the subject.
Relevance of Culture for IELTS Aspirants
The official IELTS Guide for Teachers says that IELTS Academic Reading test passages ‘are taken from books, journals, magazines, and newspapers and are on academic topics of general interest. All have been selected for a nonspecialist audience.’ However, it cannot be disregarded that this nonspecialist audience is mostly from the Western academic tradition which is significantly different from say the Indian or Arabic academic tradition.
Written by Western authors and heavily influenced by a Western lens of viewing the world, it can be a little difficult for you and me to relate to all that is included. But you might still be wondering how does it affect you? The answer is that it affects your score! The choices you make during the test affect your score and thus, your chances of succeeding. It also goes beyond the scope of the IELTS test. You will be going to a different country that speaks a different language and has a vastly different culture. The practical scenario will of course differ but reading helps to form basic ideas about people and their thinking.
What Can You Do?
Though it sounds kind of ominous, do not be afraid or worried. It becomes easier with practice and patience. The first step is to get familiar with the topics that usually come up in an IELTS reading test. Varied but fairly predictable, knowing about these in detail can give you a great head start.
- Welfare and social support
- Environmental issues
- Technology and society
- The aging population
- Travel and tourism
- Language and communication
- Health
Read, Read, Read
Reading in depth about these and other related topics gives you a better understanding of the foreign environment. One great tool is English periodicals such as The Guardian, National Geographic, and Daily Telegraph. Look at the structure and see how it has been divided. As an IELTS aspirant, this helps you identify the main argument and the supporting statements. Pay attention to how the author begins each para and look for the gist. Are you able to keep up with the argument? Also, keep an eye out for the vocabulary and see what words are being used to describe the particular topic. This also helps your writing skills.
Thus, you can do a lot to get started with your IELTS reading preparation. We have prepared a list of reading tips for your convenience. And as you become more comfortable with the language, you will see that the culture gap is not a huge monster to fear. Rather it is a great challenge to overcome which only boosts your confidence in life!
