"Reading Comprehension"

Someone on the Always Learning list had written "She is finally only now comprehending what she is reading..."

I responded:

This phrase always stops me in my tracks.
If someone is reading (or says she's reading, or others say she's reading, or school claims she's reading) but she's not "comprehending what she reads" then HOW on earth, in any small way, did anyone think to claim it was "reading"?
Phonics.
That's what.
Damned phonics.
I can read French and Spanish. I could probably read German, badly. Of French I would glean a bit. Of Spanish I'd know very, very vaguely what I was reading about but wouldn't be able to translate it.
Of German I wouldn't know a damned thing.
Would I really be reading?
If I just run my eyes across it and make out what sounds I can, would that be reading?
If I read aloud (which is what I was first thinking two paragraphs up), would I really be reading?
If I sound out, according to phonetic rules, Spanish, but I don't understand enough Spanish to comprehend it (unless it's really very basic and about grocery stores or cars or something lyrical about beso or corazon)... I don't think I'm reading squat.
Reading HAS to have comprehension.
Sandra

A mom who had suddenly gone from a one-hour-a-day limit to suddenly letting young boys use TV, YouTube, Minecraft and other video games didn't know what to do about their binge. I gave her my best link to understand what had happened, but was afraid she would miss the substance of it.

Sandra to the mom described above:

The creation of the desire was partly your doing. Please read this:
Economics of Restricting TV Watching of Children by Pam Sorooshian
Don't read it fast, as though it's an assignment in school and that you pass if you can answer five or ten questions about it. Read it thoughtfully, wondering how it could apply to what you've already done at your house—not just lately, but over the past few years.
Read it again in a week. Maybe put a reminder on your phone. May 30, 2020; reread Economics of Restricting TV Watching of Children, by Pam Sorooshian
Reading it once quickly would be like pouring water on your head if you were thirsty.

In March, 2023, I was watching a video about someone learning to read Korean on the plane there from the U.S. The friend who taught him said he would be able to read aloud, but not know what it meant.

Korean used to use Chinese characters, but a simple and very effective phonetic writing system was developed in 1443 by King Sejong. Though it worked well, it was considered only good for women and the ignorant poor, for centuries. But now that it's in general use, it makes it easier for foreigners to learn Korean, and for Koreans to learn to read.

Outside reading: How do teachers view reading comprehension? http://www.literacy.uconn.edu/compre.htm
(Caution: Reading too much of that at once could cause deep frustration)

Related pages in the reading section of this site: Speed Reading and thoughts on Real Reading.

Reading index page