Learning English should be fun but it can be hard, especially reading. But there’s a special type of book that can help you. These books are called ‘Graded Readers.’ Let’s see why they’re so helpful.
1. What Are Graded Readers?
Graded readers are books written for English learners. They are written at different levels, from absolute beginners to advanced learners. This means that you can start with easy books and can read harder ones as you improve. There are many types of stories to choose from, like popular novels, classics, or facts about the world. Here are some companies that publish graded readers: Oxford University Press, Cambridge University Press, and Penguin.
2. Why Are Graded Readers Great?
These books are perfect for learning English. Here are just a few of the benefits of graded readers.
- Learn New Words: Reading these books will show you many new words. You’ll learn them naturally – this is much better than trying to learn a list of vocabulary!
- Understand Grammar Better: Reading helps you understand English grammar more easily. These books let you learn at your own speed.
- Talk Better: The more you read, the better your English conversation will get. You’ll also start to feel more confident.
- Learn About the World: These books teach you about different cultures and ideas. Reading becomes an adventure!
3. How to Use Graded Readers:
So, how do you use graded readers? Here are some helpful tips.
- Choose the Right Book: Start with a book that’s at your level. It should be a bit of a challenge, but not too hard. Later, you can try harder books. Also, choose a book that interests you – there are so many to choose from! Your university or school library will probably have a large collection of graded readers.
- Read Every Day: Read a little bit every day. Even 15 minutes can help a lot. Make it a habit!
- Guess the Meaning: You don’t need to know every word. Try to guess what words mean from the story. If you don’t know a word, that’s ok – just keep reading! You can always check unknown words later.
- Ask Yourself Questions: While reading, ask yourself what will happen next. This makes reading fun and helps you understand more.
- Think About the Story: After you read, think about the story. What happened? What do you think about how the characters behaved? Did you learn new words or grammar?
4. Graded Reader Reading Plan:
Let’s get started with your reading journey. Here’s a simple plan to help you start using Graded Readers:
- Week 1-2: Choose a book at your level. Read for 15 minutes every day. Try to understand the story – don’t worry about understanding every word.
- Week 3-4: Now read for 20 minutes a day. Look at how sentences are written and guess what words mean from the story.
- Week 5-6: Read for 25 minutes a day. Think about the story and guess what happens next. Note down new words.
- Week 7-8: Try a harder book. Read for 30 minutes a day. Keep asking questions and retell the story in your words.
Graded readers are amazing for learning English. They make reading fun and help you learn faster. By making reading a habit, you’ll learn lots of new words and understand English better. So, find a graded reader, start your reading adventure, and watch your English improve! Happy reading!