Are you trying to become a more proficient reader of the English language? Reading fluency is an core part of any successful language-learning journey. Being able to quickly and smoothly read through any piece of text is one of the 4 skills to mastering fluency.
In this blog post, we’re going to cover 5 useful tips that can help you on your journey towards becoming a fluent English reader. Whether you’re just starting out or looking to refine existing skills, these strategies should provide some value!
Tip #1 Read for fun
Choose topics that genuinely interest you in either books, magazines, or online blogs. This could be either about your favorite hobbies, genres, or knowledge subjects. When starting out with reading in a new language, enjoying the materials is a big help when understanding the language itself is already a challenge. When you enjoy what you’re reading, it becomes easier to stay engaged and motivated.
Tip #2 Dedicate a special time to read
Setting aside a dedicated time for reading will keep you accountable to practice regularly. Allocate a specific period each day solely for reading. This could be early in the morning, during your lunch break, or before bedtime. Establishing a consistent reading routine will definitely help you strengthen your reading ‘muscles’ and guarantee progress over time.
Tip #3 Keep a vocabulary journal
Another practical tip to enhance your English reading skills is to create a language journal. After reading a text, jot down new words, phrases, or expressions that you encounter. Include their meanings, usage examples, and any relevant notes. This process helps you actively engage with the material and reinforces your learning. Reviewing your language journal regularly will reinforce new vocabulary and deepen your understanding of the text, facilitating better reading comprehension and fluency.
Tip #4 Reread the text
Consider reading the same text multiple times. Each time you go over the material, you’ll notice new details, grasp the meaning more easily, and gain a better understanding of the overall context. Rereading also allows you to focus on different aspects, such as grammar structures, idiomatic expressions, or specific vocabulary. Through repetition, your brain becomes more attuned to the patterns and intricacies of the English language, enhancing your reading skills and boosting fluency
Tip #5 Read out load
When you read aloud, you use both your visual and auditory processing. This helps you create a rhythm in your pronunciation and intonation. It also strengthens your ability to connect the written word with its sound, leading to improved comprehension and fluency. Reading out loud also helps to build your confidence to voice your ideas with others later on, because you already know how your voice sounds when you speaking in English.
Learning how to read in a new language is not easy, but with these 5 practical tips and personal consistency, you will see your skills improve.
Practicing reading as an English language skill is a part of becoming fluent in the language. This is why EC Live methodology gives students reading exercises to complete before class. By understanding the language before the lesson student are ready with questions. Every EC Live lesson has Pre-Lesson Tasks and Post-Lesson Tasks for students to practice all four language skills within a certain number of lessons, ensuring you will practice all four skills throughout any course. Learn more about EC Lives Intensive lesson structure here.
If you take the Premium Course, you will have a task for each of the four language skills every week. If you take our Standard Course, you will have 4 tasks over 2 weeks.
Learn more about EC Live and book a free trial lesson.