How to Improve Your Reading Skills in English

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.

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 finds 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 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". 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!

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

Learning Tip - don't translate - only use a dictionary if a word keeps appearing in a text and you still don't understand it.

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.

They are arranged according to the levels: easy, intermediate and advanced. We have some examples.

Elementary / Pre-Intermediate: Colorado Fire (a story about a bad fire,

which you can read, listen to, and then answers questions about)

Intermediate: The Hitch-Hiker (a timed reading comprehension activity)

Advanced: The Internet (another recommended text which comes with accompanying questions)

Intermediate Reading

Read the text and answer the questions.

Man Answers Email

A computer company has a special person who answers all questions that

are sent to him. The person is a 63 year old man. He is known for always

finding the right answers. On the Internet, more people are finding out

about this smart man.

He does not look like a computer expert. He has silver hair and is gentle.

He feels that his age helps him with his job. He remembers a lot of things

people ask about. He says that every day is different, so he is never bored.

He tries to return the answers within 24 hours. He will answer any

questions that he can. The questions he gets are very different each day. He

loves his job.

Other companies do not have a place for people to ask questions. If they

do, it may take a long time to get an answer. Sometimes you may never get

an answer at all.

It is important for companies to have a person who will answer your

questions. It keeps the customers happy. Happy customers will keep

coming back.

PICK AN ANSWER

1. Many other _____ do not have a place for people to ask questions.

1. stores

2. companies

3. buildings

2. _____ customers will keep coming back.

1. Confused

2. Happy

3. Sad

3. Happy customers will _____.

1. not call on the phone

2. keep coming back

3. buy lots of things

4. He tries to _____ the answers within 24 hours.

1. work

2. return

3. forget

5. He does not look like a _____ expert.

1. questions

2. telephone

3. computer

6. A computer company has a special person who ______ that are sent to

him.

1. gets rid of everything

2. returns everything

3. answers all questions

7. He says that every day is different, so he is _____.

1. never bored

2. never happy

3. always tired

8. He is known for always finding the right _____.

1. problems

2. question

3. answer

9. Many other companies do not have a place for people to _____.

1. go to work

2. write down a problem

3. ask questions

10. He feels that his age helps him with _____.

1. getting food stamps

2. understanding feelings

3. his job