Secrets to Unlocking Reading Comprehension: Reading Expository Texts

"Once you know the method, your reading comprehension will inevitably improve."

Sunyoung Lee, Professor of Korean Language Education, Korea University X

Juhwan Kim, Professor of Korean Language Education, Kyungkook National University

Written by the literacy experts most trusted by teachers—

The definitive guide to Korean language learning

Starting in middle school, reading ability—that is, reading comprehension—has a major impact on academic performance. Without strong reading skills, students hit a ceiling not only in Korean language arts but also in social studies, science, and even math. So how can reading ability be improved? Will simply doing more practice problems help?

Sunyoung Lee, Professor of Korean Language Education at Korea University, and Juhwan Kim, Professor of Korean Language Education at Kyungkook National University—the nation's foremost authorities on literacy and the experts most trusted by Korean teachers—have developed a solution for middle school literacy. Through their three-volume "Secrets to Unlocking Reading Comprehension" series, they have systematically organized the essential reading strategies every middle schooler needs to know. By mastering these strategies, students can deeply understand texts even when reading less, freeing themselves from the pressure of reading everything and the burden of endless practice problems.

In this series, the two authors have compiled strategies whose effectiveness has been proven through scientific research, presenting them in a way that middle schoolers can easily understand. They first categorize texts into "expository," "persuasive," and "literary" types, then introduce the strategies needed for each. Using a three-step approach—introducing, applying, and reviewing strategies suited to each text type—readers can learn independently. Each strategy is accompanied by carefully chosen, high-quality example passages, so simply reading the book naturally builds reading comprehension. Essential reading for both current and prospective middle schoolers, this book serves as a clear guide for students who find reading daunting, and offers those already comfortable with reading an opportunity to achieve deeper comprehension.