Chapter: Non-Linear Media (Signs, Graphs, Charts, and Tables)
Welcome to this reading skills chapter! Normally, when we read English, we read sentences from left to right, line by line. This is called linear text (ความเรียง). But in daily life, information often comes in pictures, shapes, bars, and rows of numbers. This is called non-linear media (สื่อที่ไม่ใช่ความเรียง).
Whenever you look at a warning sign on a school door, a price list on a food menu, or a bar graph showing weather changes, you are reading non-linear media! In school assessments (ม.1–ม.3), your job is to understand these visual formats and transfer the information into clear English sentences (การตีความและถ่ายโอนข้อมูล). Don't worry if this seems tricky at first—reading visual information is actually like solving a fun visual puzzle!
Note: For reading narrative passages, stories, or paragraphs, see the chapter "Stories, tales and dialogues". Here, we focus purely on visual and data-based formats.
---1. Everyday Symbols and Signs (สัญลักษณ์และป้ายเตือน/ป้ายสัญลักษณ์)
Signs and symbols use simple pictures, shapes, and short phrases to give us quick information. They are designed so that anyone can understand them in a split second, whether walking in a park, sitting in a library, or travelling at a station.
Common Types of Everyday Signs
In your English tests, signs are usually connected to daily topics like school, travel, health, and public places:
• Public Information Signs: These tell you where things are or what services exist.
Example: A sign with an "i" symbol means Information. A sign with a picture of a cup means a Café / Canteen nearby.
• Prohibition Signs: These tell you what you cannot or must not do.
Example: A picture of a mobile phone inside a circle with a slash line through it means No mobile phones allowed or "Please turn off your phone."
• Instruction or Direction Signs: These guide people on where to go.
Example: A green running figure with an arrow pointing to a doorway means Emergency Exit.
Key Language for Interpreting Signs
When questions ask what a sign means, look for these common English expressions:
• Prohibition (Not allowed): Do not enter, No smoking, No food or drink allowed, You cannot use your phone here.
• Obligation & Direction: Keep quiet, Push / Pull, Turn left, Please wait here.
• Place functions: Restroom / Toilet, Library entrance, Bus stop.
Quick Memory Trick: Look at the circle and slash! A circle with a diagonal red line running across a picture almost always means: "Do not do this here!"
Section Takeaway: Signs communicate ideas without long paragraphs. Identify the central picture or keyword, and decide whether it gives a direction, shows a place, or tells you what is not allowed.
---2. Tables and Timetables (ตารางและตารางเวลา)
A table arranges words and numbers in straight horizontal rows (แถวแนวนอน) and vertical columns (คอลัมน์แนวตั้ง). You see them every single day—such as your school timetable, bus schedules, or a café price menu.
How to Read a Table Step-by-Step
1. Read the Title (หัวข้อเรื่อง): The top heading tells you what the table is about (e.g., "Grade 2 Weekly Club Schedule" or "Drinks Menu and Prices").
2. Check the Column Headers: Look at the top row. It tells you what each vertical line represents (e.g., Day, Activity, Room, Teacher).
3. Find the Row: Move your finger down to find the specific item you need (e.g., Wednesday).
4. Cross-reference: Follow the row across until it meets the correct column. The box where they cross gives you the answer!
Example Table: School Sports Day Activity Sign-up
Table 1: Sports Day Registration
• Row 1: Sport: Badminton | Grade Level: ม.1 | Time: 09:00 AM | Venue: Gym A
• Row 2: Sport: Football | Grade Level: ม.2 | Time: 10:30 AM | Venue: Field 1
• Row 3: Sport: Basketball | Grade Level: ม.3 | Time: 01:30 PM | Venue: Gym B
Sample Question: Where will the ม.3 students play their sport?
Step 1: Find "ม.3" in the Grade Level column.
Step 2: Move across to the "Venue" column.
Answer: They will play in Gym B.
Section Takeaway: Never read a table word-for-word like a story. First, locate the right label at the top or side, then trace your finger to where the row and column meet.
---3. Charts and Graphs (แผนภูมิและกราฟ)
Graphs and charts present numerical facts in visual shapes. They help us compare amounts, see differences, and spot changes quickly.
Types of Graphs You Will See
• Bar Charts (แผนภูมิแท่ง): Use vertical or horizontal bars to compare amounts between different groups (e.g., number of students who like dogs vs. cats vs. birds). The taller or longer the bar, the larger the quantity.
• Pie Charts (แผนภูมิรูปวงกลม): A circle cut into slices like a pizza. The whole circle represents all \(100\%\) of a group. A bigger slice means a bigger share or percentage.
• Line Graphs (กราฟเส้น): Points connected by lines, commonly used to show how things change over time (e.g., temperatures from morning to evening, or monthly rainfall).
Essential Vocabulary for Reading Graphs and Charts
To score well on transfer-of-information questions, you should know these simple comparison words:
• The highest / The most: The top amount or the tallest bar.
• The lowest / The least: The smallest amount, shortest bar, or tiny slice.
• More than / Fewer than: Used to compare two items (e.g., "More students walk to school than take the bus.").
• Equal / The same as: When two bars or amounts are identical.
• Increase / Go up: A line that moves upward.
• Decrease / Go down: A line that drops downward.
Example: Reading a Favorite School Subjects Bar Chart
Imagine a bar chart where the vertical axis shows the number of students (\(0\) to \(50\)), and the horizontal axis shows three subjects:
• English: bar reaches \(45\) students.
• Science: bar reaches \(30\) students.
• Art: bar reaches \(15\) students.
From this chart, we can state three clear facts:
1. English is the most popular subject.
2. Art is the least popular subject.
3. More students prefer English than Science.
Section Takeaway: When looking at a graph, first find the highest and lowest points. Most test questions ask you to identify the top item, the bottom item, or make a comparison between two bars.
---4. Transferring Information (การตีความและการถ่ายโอนข้อมูล)
Information transfer means taking data from a visual format (a sign, chart, or table) and turning it into a complete, correct English sentence—or reading a short description and matching it to the right visual.
How to Turn Visual Data into English Sentences
When writing or choosing an answer sentence based on non-linear media, follow these simple sentence frames:
• Frame 1 (Describing the highest/lowest): [Item] has the highest / lowest number of [things].
Example: "Football has the highest number of players."
• Frame 2 (Comparing two items): [Item A] is [more / less popular] than [Item B].
Example: "Tea is more popular than coffee among students."
• Frame 3 (Stating a specific fact from a table): The [event] starts at [time] in [place].
Example: "The film starts at 2:00 PM in Room 101."
Common Traps and Mistakes to Avoid
• Trap 1: Confusing "most" with "least". Always double-check if the question asks for the highest or the lowest value before choosing an answer.
• Trap 2: Ignoring the Units or Labels. Always check the labels on the sides of a graph. Does the number \(10\) mean \(10\) people, \(10\) kilograms, or \(10\%\)?
• Trap 3: Overthinking beyond the data. Only use what the chart or sign shows! Do not make assumptions that are not supported by the numbers on the page.
Quick Revision Checklist
Before your exam, test yourself with these four quick checks:
• Can I identify the main purpose of a public sign (e.g., warning, direction, service)?
• Can I locate information in a table by crossing rows and columns?
• Do I know the meaning of comparison words: most, least, more than, fewer than, equal?
• Can I choose a true English sentence that accurately describes a graph or chart?