In Midrash Tanhuma Yitro 15, we read that Rabbi Akiva was called to "read the Torah" (לִקְרוֹת בְּסֵפֶר תּוֹרָה) before the congregation, but refused "because I have not reviewed the chapter two or three times, and no one is permitted to recite the words of the Torah until he has reviewed them two or three times by himself."
Now, was he called upon just "to read", in Hebrew with the proper vowels and cantillation, or should we also assume he was asked to give a dvar Torah on the portion?
I am asking: Can we accept an aliyah if we can read from the scroll, in Hebrew with the proper vowels and cantillation, but may not understand in depth what we are reading, with its many levels of meanings and associated commentaries?