How to read English books: 3 ways to help you understand what you are reading in English
“I don’t know vocabulary”
I always heard my students saying that not knowing the vocabulary is the biggest obstacle in reading English materials or books. I couldn’t agree more! And, that’s why we need to learn.
The first English book that I read when I was young is “Alice in Wonderland”. I can tell you that I spent months finishing it because I had to look up almost all the words in a dictionary.
Sound discouraging, isn’t it?
But once you complete it, it gives you a big pride.
In this article, I would like to share 3 ways I apply to understand what I read in English.
- Note them down
I have a notebook for my unknown vocabulary. While I am reading, I will circle words that I don’t know the meaning, and then I jot them down in the notebook. I will set my goal to read for unknown words because if I continue circling them on and on till they pile up like 100 words, it will discourage me. So, I let myself read for unknown words for 3 pages, then I stop to note them down in my notebook.
Here is my notebook.
