Read the abstract. Look for the purpose of the article, methods, results, and the authors' conclusion about the research.
Skim the headings and look for any charts or graphs in the article. Can you understand the charts or graphs? If not, is there someone you can ask for help? Or, is there another article that might be easier to read?
Ask questions about the article before you read it.
Read the article and take notes if necessary. Try to answer your questions.