Improve your reading skills

Improve Your Reading Skills

Make a habit of reading regularly. Read as many English books, newspapers and magazines as you can get your hands on.

Reading should be fun, so make sure the texts you choose are not too too difficult for you. If the book or article you are reading is a chore, then find something easier. Try reading graded books written especially for ESL learners. Lynne has written a guide on how to choose a book here.

Find an author you like and read all their books. By doing this you will get used to the style of a particular author and the typical vocabulary and grammar they use. As you read more of his/her books you will find it easier and easier.

If you have a local library find out if they stock English books or if they have bilingual editions of English classics. Or ask them to stock English translations of books you are already familiar with.

Try reading things more than once. Read something and then read it again a few weeks/months later. You should find your understanding has improved.

Try to discuss a book you've enjoyed with other people. You can even discuss books with us on the forum, or there are lots of online book clubs and you can even write reviews on book selling sites.

Don't try to read "the classics" straight away. Save them for later, start with contemporary short stories. And don't forget, there are loads of excellent comics out there too. I actually started learning German by reading Winnie the Pooh!

!On the Network: Learning Tip - don't try to understand every word. Try to understand the overall meaning of a sentence or passage.

!On the Network: Learning Tip - don't translate every word- only use a dictionary if a word keeps appearing in a text and you still don't understand it.

!On the Network: Learning Tip -don't just read a book and then forget about it; try to analyse it. You can use this reading log to help you.

!On the Network: Use the English Blog to find some interesting articles, poems and jokes to read. If there's a word you don't understand double click it with your mouse and the definition will pop up. There are no more excuses.

!On the Network: Check out our recommended books.

!On the Network: Try some Speed Reading tips to increase your reading speed.

!On the Network: Every Monday we run a reading session on Skype, There are no more excuses.

!On the Network: We run an English Book club on Second Life. If you would like to join us, or have any other ideas / suggestions (clean ones) of what we could do on Second Life you have to be a member of the forum.

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