Have you ever noticed that there is a difference between the words you recognize and the words that you use in a conversation? Are there any words that you would recognize in a book but are not confident enough to try and use in conversation?
That’s because there are two levels of “knowing”. There are the words that you know passively (you can recognize them but not use them) and there are the words that you actively use. The trick is to learn to recognize as many words as you can but then to get confident using them in conversation.
One of the best ways to improve your passive vocabulary is through reading. Increasing your vocabulary of passively learned words builds a great foundation for later active learning.
Here’s why you should improve English by reading books (but not just that…)
Reading is not only a fun activity that opens your mind to different worlds, but it is also an effective way to improve your English skills, including your English conversation skills.
Learning vocabulary is first a matter of recognition. But once you are familiar with the words, you can start to see the way they are used in a sentence.
Learning words from real contexts means that you are probably going to be able to use the word in the right situations. This is much better than learning from vocabulary lists.
Reading also provides you with a model of structured English whereas listening provides a model of more colloquial English. And when you read, you have more control over the content that you want to learn about. You choose what you are interested in reading.
Finally, practicing reading also helps your English pronunciation and fluency, particularly if you read aloud.
What content in English should I read?
So reading in English has lots of advantages. Let’s see now what kind of content we should read.
The first rule is to read content that is just right for your level. Just right means that you come across words that you don’t know but not so often that you break the momentum of your reading.
Read content that is interesting to you. If you enjoy it, you are more likely to keep it up.
Start with easy books or articles. If you’re not yet comfortable reading in English, start with easy-to-read books or articles. Children’s books, graded readers, or articles that are written for English language learners can be a good starting point. Picking an article from the Study Box can also be a good source of articles to read as they’ve been selected for you and graded per level.
Then try to read a variety of materials in English, such as news articles, fiction, non-fiction, and academic texts. This will help you get familiar with different styles of writing and vocabulary.
Develop reading habits
If finding the right content to read in English is extremely important, organizing your day to include reading to your daily habits is even more important.
Reading regularly in English can make a big difference to your English level. Reading regularly is better than forcing yourself to read 2 hours once a week so try 10 minutes a day before you sleep, in the morning, or during your break in the day.
Consistency is key. Aim to read a little bit every day to build your reading skills and increase your vocabulary.
Taking notes while you read, and making a note of any new vocabulary or phrases you come across can be a good way to consciously increase your English vocabulary and bring awareness to your learning. When you write them down and review them later for best results.
Try to guess the words before you look them up in a dictionary. Remember, the first time you see it, you just want to start to recognize it. Use a dictionary if you come across the word several times. Look it up in a dictionary, this will help you understand the meaning of the word and how it is used in context.
Remember, the key to improving your English through reading is to be consistent, and patient, and to enjoy the process. What are you reading in English at the moment?
