Hey everyone and welcome back to the understandable. English podcast, today's topic is how important is reading with learning English. So we're going to look at is it really that important and I am going to tell you exactly what I think from my experience teaching English, too many students from different countries He's and of course, from my experience learning foreign languages as well.
So to start with, I will say, yes, I think reading in another language is essential very important to learning the language, but it isn't so important for speaking and understanding the language as you might think. I always say and I will say it time and time again that you should be speaking and listening to English as much as you can.
But reading is still important here is why to start with reading, really helps you with vocabulary regardless of your level reading helps with Target, Languages it helps you build and
boost your vocabulary. The number of words, you know, whenever you read Because naturally you are going to be exposed, you're going to see lots of different words and expressions, especially if this content, if this text is written, by a native speaker over time your vocabulary, So, the amount of words in English that, you know, will expand, it will grow and you will understand more and more English. But one important thing to know
is that even though you learn lots of new words, it won't help you to use them. The reason for this is that most of these words will go into your past. Of vocabulary. These are words that you understand. That you recognize, but not words that you use in your everyday speech.
When you do speaking practice, or you try to speak in English, but there is some good news here, neither that these words are in your passive vocabulary, you can move them to To your active vocabulary, much easier, your active vocabulary is the words that you use in speech. So when you're speaking and the more you practice speaking and having conversations, the more of these passive words, you will begin to use and it might surprise you when I was learning Russian and I still will do.
I learned lots of words every day using applications, I tried to learn 10 new words every single day. And over time, I noticed that I would understand these words, from speech, from TV, from books, news articles, but I didn't really use these words However, with time, when I was talking about specific topics, like specialist topics such as politics or technology and I would try to find the right
word. Eventually, one of these words that I had learnt would pop into my head and I would use it and I would gradually start to use that word more and more. Or in my speech and that is the magic of reading in another language. When we read in another language, we see the words in context. So we see the words around it and how it is meant to be used, and when you are speaking, you might find yourself coming across some of these contexts. So similar sentences or And
environments. And at this moment, you might find yourself using such words and never key reason, for learning through Reading is that reading and grammar are closely connected learning and memorizing, grammar rules can be boring. However, grammar is, of course, essential in learning a language because without it, it's hard to speak quite fluently, but the good news is reading and grammar are closely connected with reading.
You will start to see grammar patterns, you will learn sentence structures and you will see grammar exceptions, which you have studied, maybe in a book, or in class reading is a perfect way to improve your grammar. And to recap and learn over the rules that you already know a naturally over time, the more you practice speaking. This can only help you reading is also. So closely connected to writing skills.
The more you read the more writing styles you will see and understand and you can even start to copy these writings. Styles. But there are many other grit reasons for reading in another language, besides, simply improving your grammar, or learning new words. And one of these is that it is simply good for your brain when you read in another language and you start to understand it in a way you are thinking in that language, you're using that language. In your brain.
You can also read anything you want. You can choose areas that you are interested in. If you love literature or books you can read those. If you love news articles or science, technology politics, anything is available to you online.
We are so lucky to have access to the the internet and the unlimited amount of information that you can access in English, even by going on social media like Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, you can see so much content in English and there you will see a lot more slang or colloquialisms, which are a native phrases or need if words Which are maybe informal language but words and phrases that locals and natives use
everyday. It's also quite relaxing whenever we read I find that our brains go into quite a relaxed State. It's not a stressful for me as doing grammar exercises for example or even speaking about it. A topic, I don't know so much about, but mainly it comes down to this variety. So, doing different things, when you are on your English language, learning Journey, it's best to do. Lots of different things for learning English.
This keeps it interesting for you, you won't always be doing a course book, you won't always Learning grammar or trying to speak all of the time, it will help you improve your level while doing different things and staying interested and excited about learning English. So every now and again, even before you go to sleep, I would recommend putting down that course book that study book stopping some grammar pick up a book or a no. Article in English and give it a
read, of course. Keep listening to as much English as you can. And speaking, as much as possible, these are still far more important by reading then than reading, but it doesn't make reading not important. I hope that this episode was useful for you and that you got some good. Listening practice. Let me know. Do you read in English? What do you like to read? Do you read books articles and more just comments online and I look forward to seeing you in
the next episode. As always send me recommendations of topics that you want to hear about in the podcast, have a A great day and a fantastic week and I will speak to you very soon. Goodbye.