Anticipate information in the text

Everyone knows that it is easier to read about familiar topics. This is especially true of reading in a foreign language because familiarity with the topic helps the reader to guess the meaning of unfamiliar words. Before you start reading, ask yourself what you know about the topic.

For instance, if you know something about college admissions, your knowledge of the admissions process will help you anticipate some of the information in a Russian text about university admission policies. This, in turn, will make it easier for you to guess what some of the unfamiliar words mean.