How to Improve Reading Comprehension and Expression in English
Do you have problems writing in English? Do you make a lot of mistakes? If so, this article will interest you.
In order to improve comprehension and written production in English, I would like to give you some advice to put into practice.
1. First of all, read!
Read newspapers, novels, comics etc. with regularity. Spend some time every day reading in English. You will see that with consistency, you will be able to improve your written comprehension and at the same time your written production. Take at least 15 minutes to read one or more articles, or to read a few pages of a novel in French that you like, etc.
2. Don’t get hung up on unfamiliar words:
Try reading an entire sentence or paragraph to understand unfamiliar words through context. This will allow you to discover the exact meaning of the unknown word(s) or the general meaning. I advise you not to stumble over a word or expression and stop reading in the middle of a sentence or in the middle of a paragraph because of this unknown word.
If you want, you can write them down in a small notebook, on a sheet of paper to try to memorize them later if that helps you. Do the same with grammatical constructions. And if you really don’t understand the word you have just discovered, look it up in the dictionary. But this must be the last thing to do.
Finally, when you learn a new word, you can also use it by introducing it into sentences as much as possible. This will make it easier for you to remember.
3. Look for similarities with other languages:
Perhaps in your mother tongue there are similarities with English? For example, there may be grammatical, morphological, etc. similarities. Or maybe there are some in another language that you have learned and are fluent in?
4. Review grammar and vocabulary
The best thing is to practice in context. But if reading texts in English does not allow you to understand and improve certain grammatical points, or even vocabulary, we recommend that you revise the grammar with English methods and create vocabulary lists by theme.
5. Variety of the topics:
It’s good to be interested in certain topics and only want to read newspaper articles related to them. But this will prevent you from acquiring and mastering vocabulary on other subjects that you enjoy less. If you’re sitting for a formal exam, you need to be prepared to understand and talk about a variety of topics, even those you hate.
Not only will the previous points allow you to improve your understanding of text in English, but they will also allow you to better express yourself in writing.
6. Analyze and formulate:
Analyze the topic you want or need to speak on. Formulate your thoughts and think about your sentences before writing them. Poor communication leads to misinterpretation. You can write them down on a scrap sheet before editing them.
7. Think about the reader:
Think about the reader when you write and prefer short sentences to sentences that are too complex and poorly written or constructed.
8. Organize your text:
Learn the rules for organizing a text: how to know how to make a plan, the use of logical articulators, etc.
9. Exile your native language:
Forget to write your ideas and your text in your mother tongue and then translate it into English.
Write directly in English!
10. Proof reading:
Not only will rereading your text allow you to correct any spelling errors you may spot, but it will also allow you to see if you yourself understand the text you have written.
Sometimes, when we’re in a hurry, we don’t pay attention and we think we’re expressing ourselves very well, when that’s not the case. By rereading, you can pay attention to the construction of your sentences and improve them if necessary.
Extra tip:
Practice with another person (English-speaking correspondent, teacher, etc.) and take dictations! These are very good exercises to improve written expression but also oral comprehension!
