Have you ever read a book in English? For many students this might feel impossible, but below we look at the best books for improving your English via reading:
1. Parallel Text Short Stories
One page is written in your native language, and the opposite page is written in English. These are fantastic books if you don't want to be checking your dictionary every 2 seconds while you read!
Search for 'parallel text' on amazon for lots of options. I personally recommend this one.
Search for 'parallel text' on amazon for lots of options. I personally recommend this one.
2. Graded Readers
These are popular books that have been rewritten to make them accessible for different English levels, so you can observe your progress as you start at beginner and continue until you reach advanced level.
Search on amazon for 'graded reader'. In particular I like the Penguin Readers like this one about the life of Gandhi.
Search on amazon for 'graded reader'. In particular I like the Penguin Readers like this one about the life of Gandhi.
3 & 4. Books Written In Simple English
Some books are written in easy-to-read English because of the author's style, or the character of the storyteller. Our students recommend:
The Perks of Being a Wallflower. A fantastic short novel, about a young teenager growing up, the problems that he faces and how he, eventually, overcomes them. You may have also seen the film.
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time. This novel follows the story of a young boy who has Asperger’s Syndrome, a form of autism. The story is told from the perspective of the child and is very logical and easy to follow, as well as helping the reader to understand more about autism.
The Perks of Being a Wallflower. A fantastic short novel, about a young teenager growing up, the problems that he faces and how he, eventually, overcomes them. You may have also seen the film.
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time. This novel follows the story of a young boy who has Asperger’s Syndrome, a form of autism. The story is told from the perspective of the child and is very logical and easy to follow, as well as helping the reader to understand more about autism.
5. The Power of Habit
Why we do what we do and how to change - The Power of Habit is a very useful book to read if you want to make reading in English a new habit that you do every day! Award-winning New York Times reporter Charles Duhigg discusses scientific discoveries that explain why habits exist & how they can be changed.
Why Read?
Reading in English is a great way to improve your vocabulary and get used to different sentence structures. It can also really help in ‘Use of English’ exam sections when you’re not sure which answer is correct. If you’ve read a lot, you will have a ‘gut feeling’ which option is right, sometimes without knowing why.
Do you have any more suggestions? Email me at [email protected] or add a comment below!
Do you have any more suggestions? Email me at [email protected] or add a comment below!
