WHY STUDENTS NEED TO READ MORE- Akmal Hafiiz

Many students focus too much on speaking English. They become obsessed with speaking and often ignore reading. Advanced students know all of the basic vocabulary and can hold a very nice conversation, but without reading, it’s very easy for them to just plateau and not improve. Reading pushes them to use new words and express new ideas. My students always ask how they can become more fluent. My answer is always the same: read more. This is why:

1) YOU NEED TO KNOW WORDS BEFORE YOU CAN SPEAK THEM

Reading in a foreign language is the best way to learn new words. In spoken language people use the same vocabulary again and again. You have no time to think, so you automatically use the simplest, most common expressions (I like James Bond films, I like you, I like penguins). People are often more adventurous with their vocabulary when they write  (I’m really keen on James Bond films, I adore you, I’ve got a penchant for penguins).

2) YOUR GRAMMAR IMPROVES

People have more time to think and plan before they write than before they speak. Students who read more, tend to produce better writing themselves. They are more confident in using complicated grammar structures and longer sentences and they are also more familiar with punctuation.

3) READING MAKES YOU SPEAK BETTER

Students who read regularly answer questions better; they can construct logical and convincing arguments and defend their point of view. They can tell anecdotes skillfully, recount stories in an interesting and effective way and generally hold conversations better.

4) READING GIVES YOU MORE TO SAY

It is very difficult to have a conversation or write an essay if you know nothing about a topic. Reading gives you knowledge. Often the best class discussions are when students bring their own examples to the debate that they have read about.

Written by,

Akmal Hafiiz Abd Rani

Lecturer,

Faculty Education And Human Development,

Kolej UNITI Port Dickson