Have you ever read (or watched) Harry Potter? They noticed that in one translation there is Severus Snape, but in another – Zloteus Snape, Hedwig can be Hedwig, etc. The dialogue of the characters sounds different, some episodes are missing. This is simply because different translators worked on the text. But what if you read the text in the original? And replenish your vocabulary, and enjoy the work in a foreign language.
Choose books according to your level
For beginners, adapted literature, comics, even some books for children are suitable. By the way, if the child also learns English, read together. Plus one lesson in the piggy bank of family hobbies. Let’s leave Shakespeare to the future. While we are getting acquainted with the work of modern authors, it will be easier to understand the speech of the characters and you can learn many popular “live” expressions.
Read only interesting books
If you are a fan of science fiction or detective stories, don’t force yourself to read dramas. The only benefit that can be obtained from such reading is sound sleep.
What about tips and tricks?
Catch:
- You can read in English what you once read in your native language. The technique works great because you already know the plot and can pay more attention to the vocabulary that the author used.
- In Google Play or the App Store, there are applications like “Books in English with translation.” You read the text in English, and if you meet an unfamiliar word or do not understand the essence of the sentence, you get a translation.
- In the Choices: Stories You Play app, you can both read and write your own story – you choose how events will develop. There is not much text there, so it is suitable for those who do not really like to read.
Read anywhere, anytime
Do not turn reading into a ritual that requires preparation. Read in transport, during breaks at work, at night before going to bed. But even with a ritual, it’s not such a bad idea if you don’t have to tune into it for three hours. We just take a book, sit comfortably in an armchair with a cup of aromatic tea and a chocolate bar, and here you have pleasant associations and a cozy atmosphere.
What to do with new words?
If we read just for fun, then it is not necessary to write out every unfamiliar word, especially if it is repeated only one or several times in the text. We remember the expressions that we would like to use later in speech. By the way, do not be afraid to reread paragraphs, because we do this even when we read something in our native language.
But if we work with the text for educational purposes and want to significantly replenish the vocabulary, then serious work lies ahead:
- we read a paragraph without translation and a dictionary, we try to catch the meaning;
- underline the unfamiliar word, sign the translation from above; you can also write or stick a colored sticker on the margins of the page;
- send the word to your personal dictionary;
- you can write the same word many times on a separate piece of paper, and now you already remember how it is written;
- we work through a couple of pages of the book, and then we come up with new vocabulary sentences, but it is better to use it immediately in speech, if possible;
- and we consolidate success by retelling what we read – a great opportunity to repeat grammar and new words, plus we train pronunciation.
By the way, it is better to read aloud, so we monitor exactly how we sound, whether our intonation is suitable, and this also affects our speaking.
You have a great opportunity to work on your English right now. Follow our advice, grab a book and enjoy!
