Hello and welcome to my podcast My Life and Other Funny Stories. My name is Dagmar Tomášková, I am an English tutor and coach and I created this podcast for English students who want to get better in their oral comprehension. As always you can find the transcription of this episode and vocabulary list in the notes of the podcast. 

In this episode, we will talk about books. Why? I am a firm believer, that reading as a way to learn a language offers many benefits that contribute significantly to language acquisition and proficiency. I will say that reading has been one of the biggest reasons why I improved in English so quickly when I was younger and I will die on this hill. It can help you in so many areas! Why should you read as a way to learn English? Let’s look at those areas:

1)Vocabulary:

Reading exposes learners to a wide range of vocabulary in context, helping them understand and remember new words more effectively. Also seeing words repeatedly in different contexts helps with understanding and remembering the words.

2) Syntax and grammar. 

Seeing how words are used in sentences helps you grasp the rules of grammar and syntax more intuitively. If you see it over and over again, you will be then able to use it even without explicit learning because regular reading helps learners recognize common sentence structures and grammatical patterns.

3) Comprehension skills

You will be exposed to bigger text and your brain will be forced to train its comprehension skills.  Analyzing text helps critical thinking and comprehension abilities.

4) Cultural understanding 

Reading literature and other texts exposes you to cultural information, idioms, and expressions that are important for full language understanding. On top of that reading authentic texts provides insight into the culture, history, and perspectives of native speakers. I learned so much about American and British history from the dozens and probably hundreds of books written my American and British that I read. It is then easier to understand foreign jokes and be more in the picture.

5) Writing skills

Reading high-quality texts gives you models of good writing, which can improve learners‘ own writing skills. If you read only Instagram captions or short-form content, it can teach you  terrible spelling as many native speakers don’t write correctly. 

6) Motivation

Choosing interesting and engaging books can make language learning more enjoyable and motivating. Also completing books or articles gives me a sense of achievement, boosting my confidence and motivation. I was so so happy when I read my first French book and with every new finished, I feel very motivated to start a new one.

There are many more benefits but that is not what this episode is about. Now you know why I think reading is essential for learning a language. But then I get a lot of questions- yes, I want to read but I don’t know what. So let me give you some recommendations. 

Let’s divide it into categories according to levels. If you are listening, I would guess, you are at least at a level A2+, B1 or higher but just to cover all the bases, I will just quickly mention some recommendations for lower levels. And how to know which level to choose? You should always understand at least 70-80% of the page. If you understand everything, then it might be time for something more but if you understand less than 60%, it is not an enjoyable experience and I would just take a step back and try something easier.

A0- A1

This is just the start of your learning journey- you know almost no vocabulary and it is very challenging to read any texts. Start with picture books and books for children. I know it might be a bit weird to read again like a child but it is just about the simplicity and also the fact that the words are usually followed by pictures – it is easier to remember and see some vocabulary in context. Sometimes you just have to swallow your ego and start where children start.

If you are interested in some books of this nature, I will give one in the description.

(odkazy najdeš pod přepisem)

Overall, you can just start with basic fairytales.

A2-B1

Here I would recommend simplified literature and short stories. I have already recommended some things in episode no.30 where I talked about my own language learning but I really like books called “Short Stories in English” by Olly Richard. They have more levels so you can start with easier ones and then progress to the more complex ones. These are very short stories, usually around 3 to 5 pages where you have a vocabulary at the end of the chapter and also a short quiz to check your comprehension. This is where I started with my French reading, as these stories are also available in different languages, and it really gave me a great introduction to reading.

Here you can also start with simplified literature such as The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes simplified for the level A2. I will give you again the link for a miniversion into the description and into the transcription

(odkazy najdeš pod přepisem)

B1

B1 is a level where we finally can start understanding books written not specifically for English learners. I would recommend staying with shorter books here as at this level, it is still quite challenging to pay attention for a longer period of time but some books that could be interesting for you are:

Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry

I think that everyone knows this one but if you are not really sure what it is about or you have never read it, it tells the story of a young prince who travels from his tiny home planet to various other worlds, meeting peculiar adults who embody human flaws. On Earth, he befriends a pilot stranded in the desert and a wise fox who teaches him about love and friendship. Through these encounters, the Little Prince learns about the deeper meanings of life, love, and human nature. It is a really nice book that can make you think but it can still be a little challenging if you are not on B1 level.

Charlotte’s Web by E.B. White

This is the story of a pig named Wilbur who is saved from being slaughtered by a clever spider named Charlotte. Living on a farm, Wilbur befriends Charlotte, who weaves words into her web to praise Wilbur and make him seem extraordinary.

The Diary of a Wimpy Kid“ by Jeff Kinney

This story follows the humorous and relatable adventures of Greg Heffley, a middle school student who chronicles his daily life in a diary. Greg navigates the challenges of school, family, and friendships, often finding himself in awkward and funny situations. Through his diary entries and doodles, Greg’s misadventures highlight the trials of growing up, making it a beloved read for both kids and adults.

Little anecdote about this book- this was actually the first English book I read. I read it when I was about 11 and I had the Czech version at home. It is written like a diary and there are a lot of pictures so it was quick and fun. It is written for young teenagers so you have to take it with a grain of salt – sometimes it is very childish but for learning English it is very nice.

B1+

Once you get a little further and now you are somewhere between B1 and B2, we can go a little higher on the difficulty scale. I recommend these books: 

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone“ by J.K. Rowling

Of course, I cannot miss this one as it is also my gateway into learning languages. I read it in Czech, I read it in English and now I am going through the series in French. I love it! But even though it is written for young adults, the language can be sometimes quite challenging so definitely don’t rush into it and take your time.

Catcher in the Rye by J.D.Salinger

This story is considered a classic and it is about a teenager named Holden Caulfield. He has been kicked out of many schools and feels very lonely and unhappy. Holden spends a few days in New York City, meeting different people and thinking about how much he dislikes the „phoniness“ of adults. He wants to protect kids and keep them innocent, imagining himself as the „catcher in the rye“ who saves children from falling. The story shows Holden’s struggles with growing up and finding his place in a confusing world.

I really like it and I read it many times. I can’t even tell why it is so interesting to me but I really enjoy the language and the journey of the main character.

Animal Farm by George Orwell

Another classic story about farm animals who overthrow their human farmer, hoping to create a society where they can be free and equal. Led by pigs named Napoleon and Snowball, the animals establish their own rules. However, over time, Napoleon becomes a dictator, and the farm ends up being as bad as before, with the pigs acting like humans. The book is a story about how power can corrupt and how revolutions can go wrong.

B2

The last level I will talk about is B2 because on a C1 level you can basically read almost anything in English and it should be comfortable.

Here are few books that I would recommend on this level:

First, let’s go into a romantic corner and talk about some Young Adult literature:

„Better Than the Movies“ by Lynn Painter 

This is a funny love story that follows Liz Buxbaum, a high school senior and hopeless romantic, who teams up with her annoying next-door neighbor, Wes Bennett, to win over her longtime crush, Michael. The story is a lighthearted and heartwarming romance about love, friendship, and realizing that real-life love can be even better than in the movies.

„The Fault in Our Stars“ by John Green

This is a heartfelt novel that follows the story of Hazel Grace Lancaster, a sixteen-year-old cancer patient who meets and falls in love with Augustus Waters, a fellow cancer survivor, at a support group. Despite their illness, Hazel and Augustus set off on a journey to Amsterdam to meet Hazel’s favorite author. Along the way, they confront their fears and embrace their love for each other.  The novel explores themes of love, loss, and the perspective of living with terminal illness.

But I know that romantic books are not for everyone so here are some tips for different genres of books: 

“1984” by Goerge Orwell

This is a dystopian novel set in a society ruled by the Party and its leader, Big Brother. The story follows Winston Smith, who rebels against the oppressive regime by secretly questioning its propaganda. As Winston navigates a world of surveillance and manipulation, he struggles with the loss of individual freedom and the loss of truth.

„Atomic Habits“ by James Clear 

This is a self-help book that explores the science of habit formation and offers practical strategies for building good habits and breaking bad ones. The author says that small changes in everyday life are the most important to change everything.

Through clear explanations and real-life examples, he demonstrates how habits shape our lives and how we can use them to create positive change. The book gives advice on how to identify cues, create effective routines, and maintain motivation, empowering readers to transform their habits and ultimately, their lives.

In general, self-help books are also a great way to get into reading in a different language because usually the language there is very clear and straightforward. So if you know about any nice self-help book that you like, you can try reading it in English.

When it comes to books that I wouldn’t recommend because they are too complicated under the level of C1, they are usually fantasy books with a lot of descriptions. Usually there are whole worlds of made up creatures and magical places which are described with a complicated and complex language. For example I got into reading of A Court of Thrones and Roses by Sarah J. Maas and I have to say, being at a C2 level of English, it was a challenging even at this level. So if you don’t want to be discouraged, I would leave these books for later or read them in Czech first.

Thank you so much for listening to this episode and I hope you gathered some inspiration and you will start reading in English more. If you forgot the names of the books, don’t worry, you can check out the transcription where you have it all on a silver platter. Please give it a five-star rating if you liked it and I will see you next time, bye-bye.