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Understanding what you read, or ‘reading comprehension’, is a fundamental skill for learning English, especially when taking a General English course. It’s not just about reading words; it’s about understanding the meaning, recognising the message, and enjoying the experience! When you improve your reading comprehension, you’ll find that everything else—speaking, writing, and even listening—becomes easier and more enjoyable.
Our English classes in London are designed to make reading fun, easy, and helpful. The classes cover everything from news articles and stories to menus and directions, helping you build skills that are useful in real-life situations. Below, we’ll explore what you can expect and share some great tips for improving your reading comprehension.
In your English class in London, one of the first steps to better reading comprehension is growing your vocabulary, which is like the building blocks of language. The more words you know, the easier it is to understand what you’re reading!
For example, we might read a story about life in London. As we read, we focus on specific vocabulary words. You’ll learn not only what each word means but also how it’s used in a sentence and in context. This approach helps make vocabulary memorable because you’re not just learning words—you’re learning how they connect to real situations.
Tips for Expanding Vocabulary:
Make a Word List: Write down any new words and their meanings in a notebook.
Use Flashcards: Write words on cards and quiz yourself regularly.
Context Practice: Try to use new words in sentences or conversations with classmates
💡 Pro Tip: Download a vocabulary app and set daily notifications for new words you learn in class.
Do you ever feel like you need to read every word to understand a text? At ES London, we teach two useful skills, skimming and scanning. Skimming includes reading quickly to get the main idea of the text. Scanning means looking for specific information, like dates, names, or places.
Imagine you’re looking at a timetable for a train. You don’t need to read every word—just the times and the destination! This is scanning. Or, let’s say you’re reading a short article about an interesting place in London. Skimming lets you understand the general idea without focusing on each word.
Tips for Skimming and Scanning:
💡 Pro Tip: Set a timer for one minute and practise skimming through short articles. It’s a fun way to train your brain to find the main idea faster!
Finding the main idea is like solving a puzzle. Each paragraph or section of a reading has one main point. In our English courses in London, we’ll teach you how to identify this main idea and recognise the supporting details that explain or provide more information.
For example, when reading a short story, the main idea might be about a character facing a problem. Supporting details could include what the character does, how they feel, and the outcome. Recognising these parts will help you understand the structure of what you’re reading, which is key to comprehension.
Tips for Identifying Main Ideas:
💡 Pro Tip: Highlight or circle sentences that repeat key ideas. They often point to the main message of the text!
Grammar may not seem exciting, but it’s essential for reading comprehension! Sentences in English have a certain structure, and understanding this can make reading much easier.
For example, we’ll look at how English sentences usually follow a subject-verb-object pattern. We might read a sentence like “The boy kicked the ball.” Understanding who is doing the action (the boy), what the action is (kicked), and the object of the action (the ball) helps you make sense of the sentence. This foundation will help with understanding more complex sentences and improve your reading fluency.
Tips for Learning Sentence Structure:
💡 Pro Tip: Try creating your own sentences using the subject-verb-object format. Start with simple sentences and slowly try longer ones with more details.
In your English class in London, one of the first steps to better reading comprehension is growing your vocabulary, which is like the building blocks of language. The more words you know, the easier it is to understand what you’re reading!
For example, we might read a story about life in London. As we read, we focus on specific vocabulary words. You’ll learn not only what each word means but also how it’s used in a sentence and in context. This approach helps make vocabulary memorable because you’re not just learning words—you’re learning how they connect to real situations.
Tips for Asking Questions:
Write Questions in the Margins: If you’re reading on paper, note your questions in the margins.
Review Your Questions: After reading, try answering your questions.
Discuss with a Friend: Talk about the text and your questions with a classmate.
💡 Pro Tip: Turn your questions into a game! Write them on small cards and quiz yourself or a classmate after reading. It’s a fun way to stay engaged and remember more!
When you encounter a new word, try to guess its meaning by looking at the words around it. This is called using context clues. Context clues are hints in the sentence or paragraph that help you figure out what a word means.
Imagine reading, “The weather was so frigid that we had to wear gloves and scarves.” If you don’t know the word “frigid,” you can guess it means something like “very cold” because of the mention of gloves and scarves.
Tips for Using Context Clues:
Look for Clues in Adjectives or Nouns nearby: Words that describe or explain can give you hints.
Check the Sentence Structure: Sometimes examples or contrasts in a sentence help clarify the meaning.
Guess First, Then Look Up: After making a guess, confirm by looking up the word.
💡 Pro Tip: Look for words like “because,” “such as,” or “for example” in the text. These clues often help explain the meaning of new or difficult words!
In a friendly and supportive setting, reading aloud in a group is both fun and useful. When you read aloud, you slow down, which helps you focus on each word and its meaning. Plus, discussing the reading afterwards with classmates helps reinforce understanding.
During class, we might read a short article or story together and then discuss it. You’ll hear different accents, gain new perspectives, and improve your pronunciation too. Group discussions help you think about the text in new ways, making reading comprehension easier and more enjoyable.
Tips for Reading Aloud and Discussions:
Read Slowly and Clearly: Take your time to pronounce each word.
Listen to Others: Pay attention to how others read and learn from their pronunciation and rhythm.
Share Your Thoughts: Don’t be shy about sharing your ideas during discussions!
💡 Pro Tip: Take turns reading aloud with a friend or classmate. Listening to each other helps you learn new pronunciations and boosts your confidence!
Improving your reading comprehension takes practice, but it’s a rewarding journey. So why not give it a try? By joining our English course in London, you’ll find that reading comprehension isn’t just about understanding words; it’s about exploring new ideas, stories, and cultures. Let’s get started!
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