Application of Skimming & Scanning Concepts
The ideas of skimming and scanning do not just apply to reading. If we carefully study those 2 concepts, we can use them to enhance our listening, writing and even speaking skills. How?
Listening--The counterpart of skimming when it comes to listening is listening for main ideas. Knowing that main ideas are usually given in the first and last sentences of a paragraph (in this case a talk or a conversation), we may be able to catch the main ideas of what we're listening to more easily. As for scanning, it is similar to listening for details. If we need a question needing specific information answered, we need not understand the the entirety of the conversation or talk but just be alert on listening for the information we need.
Writing--Knowing the usual structure of reading materials--where to write the main ideas/topic sentences and where to put the supporting details, one can write a very organized article.
Speaking--We become more efficient speakers by giving well-organized and smooth-flowing thoughts. By applying the concepts of skimming and scanning, we would be able to know when to speak of our main points and the details supporting them in a way that would create a greater impact on the listeners.
by trainenglish