What about reading books? How do they help improving English?

[Borislav]

I haven't found the topic about reading books.How do they help improving english ? Is there any texts in the site which explain that ? Tell everything which you know.

[Kitosdad]

Borislav, reading just about anything will help in your understanding of English.

Newspapers, magazines, even comics. As long as they are in English, you will absorb new words and slowly increase your vocabulary.

I would think you could learn everything just here on this site.

Have a read of Alan's grammatically correct stories on the home page.

Better still, buy his book.

Kitos.
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If you need me, I'm here.

[Kiprida]

Borislav,

Kitos is right. Books increase vocabulary slowly.

But if you belong to the circle of persons who can't live without books (I'm one of them) then read the books in English. This way you will enjoy the story, learn new words, and read the original version of the book .

~Phoebe
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incomplete....

[Icykhool]

Borislav,
Reading help you to understand English. I pay attention to grammar while reading it will helps a lot. i feel writing and expressing your thought is more important which gives you practical training. it you keep posting your thoughts here,it will be very usefull step. I feel all members are very active and come up with good suggestion to improve writing.

[MariaEbb]

I haven't read so many "real" books in English as I have been forced to do that when I went at school. When I was going at school I just read a few pages in the books we were forced to read and the reason for it was that I didn't like the books I was forced to read. I am very happy that i haven't forgotten the English language as I don't read "real books". Now I just read computer books and joke books in English and a few pages in certain books. I have read a chapter in the book "A folk divided" By H.Arnold Barton. The reason for it is that I have difficulties to follow the lines in an English book.
/Maria

[Gray]

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A good conversation on how reading affects speaking --

Some books to improve conversational skills

The title is misleading somewhat, you would not find books there.
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I think reading greatly influences not only the remaining three skills (speaking, writing and
listening) but also the way you think.

So, we are what we read
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First lesson - English, not english. I, not i. ~A student of English

[Icykhool]

Nice thought Gray! Really reading makes positive changes on the way you think

[Jamie (K)]

One good strategy is to read the English translations of books that you have already read in your own language. This way you don't need the dictionary as much, because you already know the story and the details. It's also a good practice for reading newspapers or news online. Read stories that you have already been informed about in your native language.

[Gray]

Thanks you so much Jamie. This certainly eases the transition to English.
Watching animated stories is even more interesting.
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First lesson - English, not english. I, not i. ~A student of English