You cannot underestimate the power of storytelling. Long and short stories can take you on adventures, teach you about other cultures, and introduce you to new vocabulary words. But, did you know that stories can also help you learn English?
That's right! Reading stories is one of the best ways to improve your English speaking, writing, and comprehension skills. In this article, we'll explain why reading stories is so beneficial for language learners and give you some tips on how to get the most out of your reading. Read on!
Learn English with Langster
Learn English with Langster
Why Reading Stories Is Good for English Learners
There are many reasons why reading English stories is an excellent way to facilitate the language learning process and boost your English skills.
For one, it helps you better understand the structure of the language. By seeing how sentences are put together in a short story and how vocabulary words are used in context, you'll start to get a feel for how the English language works. Besides, it’s a more pleasant way to get used to English grammar than doing countless grammar exercises.
In addition, reading stories can also help you improve your pronunciation. As you read out loud, you'll become more familiar with the sounds of English words and learn how to string them together more fluidly. It's also a good way to catch any errors you might make while reading.
Lastly, learning English through stories is simply enjoyable! A good story is always a great way to escape into another world and relax while still practicing your second language. Besides, when you're having fun, you're more likely to pay attention and remember what you've read.
How to Get the Most Out of Reading Stories
Now that we've convinced you of the benefits of reading stories, it's time to give you some tips on how to get the most out of reading to enhance your English skills.
First, choose an English story that is at the right level for you. If you're a beginner, look for stories that are short and have a simple language – here, you can check our list of the best books for beginning English learners. As you become more confident, you can move on to longer and more challenging stories.
It's also important to read with a purpose. Before you start reading, take some time to think about what you want to get out of the story. Are you looking to learn new words? Practice your reading comprehension? Or experience one of your favorite stories in the original language?
Having a specific goal in mind will help you focus while you're reading and make the experience more beneficial.
Also, don't try to speed through the story. Instead, take your time and read at your own pace. Reading slowly will help you better understand the text and pick up on new vocabulary words more mindfully.
Other than that, you should avoid guessing a word’s meaning based on the context. It can work if you’re already somewhat proficient in English, but skipping unknown words won’t do beginners any good.
If you come across a word you don't know, look it up in a dictionary or online. This will help you build your vocabulary and ensure that you understand the story. The more you interact with the story, the more you'll get out of it.
Finally, get in the habit of summarizing what you've read. Once you finish reading, take a few minutes to summarize the story. This will help you remember what you've read and analyze the story while also practicing your writing skills.
How to Learn English Through Story Online?
If you prefer to learn English online, you can easily implement stories into your learning process. For instance, one great option is to listen to audio stories. This is a great way to improve your pronunciation and listening skills while still following along with the story. There are many YouTube channels providing videos of that sort, including BBC Learning English.
If you prefer traditional reading, there are also many websites that offer free, bite-sized stories online – a couple of clicks, and you'll find tons of options to choose from.
However, the most rewarding way is using the immersive learning technique.
What Is Immersive Learning?
Immersive learning is a teaching technique that involves completely immersing students in the learning experience. This can be done in a variety of ways, such as through role-playing, simulations, or using multimedia.
Essentially, Langster is based on immersive learning. Like some other apps, we offer stories specifically designed for language learners. Usually, such stories have interactive exercises and games to help you practice your English while you read.
Inside our app, however, you will also find grammar explanations and audio from native speakers to help you pick up proper phrasing. This way, a short story becomes a more exciting language lesson.
You can also save words and phrases from your chosen English story to work on later and can train with spaced repetition and context helpers.
The Bottom Line
All in all, reading stories is a great way to improve your English skills. Not only does it make learning more enjoyable, but it also helps you learn grammar, vocabulary, and pronunciation without textbook-associated pressure.
You can read stories online or listen to audio versions, and there are even apps that offer story-based language learning – the choice is up to you. So, what are you waiting for? Get back to reading!
