At the vital crossroads represented by the transition from adolescence to adulthood, students aged 18 and older face increasingly complex academic and professional challenges. In this context, the ability to understand texts deeply and critically is not only a fundamental tool for educational success, but also an essential pillar for the development of informed and reflective citizens, capable of managing in a society increasingly saturated with information. The conscious and systematic implementation of reading comprehension strategies at this educational level is no longer a mere pedagogical recommendation, but an imperative necessity.

Adult education requires learners to be able to interact with a variety of complex academic texts: articles, essays, monographs, among others. These materials, often dense with information and loaded with specific vocabulary, require a level of comprehension that goes far beyond the simple decoding of words. It involves the ability to identify main and secondary ideas, recognize argumentative structure, make inferences, critically analyze the information presented, and make connections to prior knowledge. Without strong reading comprehension strategies, students can become overwhelmed, experience difficulty keeping up with classes, perform poorly academically, and ultimately have their educational trajectory compromised.

The importance of these strategies transcends the purely academic realm. In today's world of work, the ability to understand complex information, analyze it and use it effectively is a highly valued skill in virtually all professional fields. Moreover, in a democratic and participatory society, critical reading comprehension plays a fundamental role in the development of independent thinking and active citizenship. Young adults are constantly exposed to news, opinions and propaganda through a variety of channels. The ability to analyze these messages critically, identify underlying intentions, assess the credibility of sources, and form one's own judgments is essential to avoid manipulation and participate in an informed manner in public debates. Reading comprehension strategies that foster analysis, inference and evaluation are therefore crucial tools for strengthening a robust and reflective civil society.

Despite their undeniable importance, many of our students lack adequate mastery of reading comprehension strategies. This may be due to various reasons, including previous pedagogical approaches that did not prioritize the development of these skills in an explicit and systematic manner. It is crucial that educational institutions recognize this reality and assume the responsibility of integrating the teaching of reading comprehension strategies into their curricula. This does not necessarily imply the creation of specific subjects, but rather the incorporation of these strategies in a transversal manner in all disciplines.

How can these strategies be effectively implemented in our classrooms? There are a variety of techniques and approaches that teachers can use to foster deep and critical reading comprehension in their students:

- Activating prior knowledge: Before engaging with a text, encouraging students to reflect on what they already know about the topic can facilitate connection to new information and improve comprehension.

- Establishing reading purposes: Clearly defining what is expected to be gained from reading a text helps students focus their attention and read more intentionally.

- Active reading and annotation: Encouraging the practice of underlining, taking notes in the margins, highlighting key ideas, and asking questions while reading helps to maintain concentration and interact more deeply with the text.

- Identifying text structure: Teaching students to recognize different types of textual structure (cause-effect, compare-contrast, problem-solution, etc.) allows them to anticipate the development of ideas and better understand the organization of content.

- Inferring meaning from context: Teaching strategies for inferring the meaning of unfamiliar words from context clues enriches vocabulary and improves overall comprehension.

- Asking questions: Encouraging students to ask themselves questions about the text before, during, and after reading promotes reflection and the search for meaning.

- Summarizing and synthesizing: Asking students to summarize or synthesize the main information in a text forces them to identify the essential ideas and express them in their own words, which is evidence of deep comprehension.

- Critical analysis: Posing questions that invite students to evaluate the validity of arguments, identify possible biases, analyze the author's purpose, and relate the text to other knowledge fosters the development of critical thinking.

- Discussion and debate: Creating spaces for students to share their interpretations, discuss different points of view and argue their ideas based on the text enriches comprehension and promotes collaborative learning.

- Use of graphic organizers: Tools such as concept maps and timelines can help students visualize relationships between ideas and organize information effectively.

Implementing these strategies requires a commitment on the part of teachers, who must actively model these skills and create a learning environment that values reflective reading and critical analysis. In addition, it is critical to provide students with specific feedback on their reading comprehension and to offer them opportunities to practice and improve their skills on an ongoing basis.

In conclusion, at a crucial stage such as the one students 18 and older are going through, the development of strong reading comprehension strategies is not a luxury, but a fundamental necessity. These skills are not only essential for academic success in education, but are also crucial for professional performance and civic participation in a complex and demanding society. Educational institutions have a responsibility to consciously and systematically integrate the teaching of these strategies into their pedagogical practices, thus empowering their students to become competent readers, critical thinkers and informed citizens. The future of our young people and our society depends, to a large extent, on their ability to understand the world around them through the written word.