Reading is one of the best ways to improve your English. It helps you build vocabulary, see grammar in context and increase your confidence.
Whether you’re preparing for an exam or just want to read books in English, with these tips you can learn English reading skills and become a better reader.
1. Find Your Reading Level
Before you read, it’s important to understand your reading level. Then you can choose suitable materials to practise with.
If you’ve recently taken a test and know your level, you’re ready for tip number 2.
If not, try assessing your reading skills yourself. It doesn’t need to be 100% accurate – just a general idea is fine. You can use this guide to help you.
Be honest about your abilities, as this will help you make good progress. There should be only about 5% of words you don’t know.
2. Read Often
To improve, reading must become a habit. Read in English for a few minutes every day. It could be a short story, a blog post or even an article online. Regular practice will help you feel more comfortable with the language.
3. Use a Dictionary, but Not Too Much
When you see a new word, try to guess its meaning from the sentence. Then check a dictionary to confirm. Don’t stop for every new word – interrupting your reading all the time is very annoying. Instead, focus on the overall meaning of the text (the gist).
With my graded readers, you won’t need a dictionary at all because the books are written at exactly your level, with definition of difficult words at the back.
4. Learn New Words
Keep a notebook or use an app to record new vocabulary. Write down the word, its meaning and an example sentence. Review your notes often to remember what you’ve learned.
5. Read Aloud
Reading aloud (speaking the words) can improve your pronunciation and help you understand the rhythm of English sentences. It’s also a great way to build confidence in speaking.
6. Ask Questions
Think about what you’re reading.
- What’s the main idea?
- Why did the character say that?
- What’s going to happen next?
Asking questions will help you understand and remember more. You’ll be able to do this easily with my graded readers because they all come with free exercises.
Would you like a free story?
I have a story for you in easy English. You can use it to practise your reading skills.
Access it here. Just enter your email address and follow the steps. I won’t send you spam, I promise.
7. Set Goals
Make a plan for your reading. For example, “I will read one chapter of a book this week” or “I will learn five new words from every article I read.” Goals keep you focused and motivated.
8. Read Different Types of Texts
Variety makes reading more exciting. Try newspapers, novels, blogs and even subtitles on films. Different types of texts expose you to new words and styles of writing.
9. Read and Listen at the Same Time
Reading and listening to an audiobook at the same time is a fantastic way to improve your English skills. Many of my graded reader books also have audiobooks – take a look here.
10. Monitor Your Progress
Keep a journal of what you read or open a free Goodreads account. Record the title, author and what you learned. In the pages of your journal, why not try writing sentences with the new English vocabulary?
Seeing your progress will motivate you to keep going.
Improving your reading is all about consistency and enjoyment. Start with simple texts and work your way up. Remember, reading should be fun! If you’re looking for easy-to-read books to practise, check out my graded readers – they’re specially designed for learners like you.
Do you have any other reading tips? Tell me in the comments below!
Happy reading!
