Lois’s answer to “Hi Do you have any suggestion for those foreigners who are into classical literature but they are …” > Likes and Comments
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The Pearl by John Steinbeck
The Great Gatsby - F. Scott Fitzgerald
Where the Red Fern Grows - Wilson Rawls
Really high-quality children's books are a great way to start: Charlotte's Web; Bridge to Terabithia;
Hi Fatemeh, I used to teach English as a Second Language (ESL). I would ask my students to get a library card and go the the library regularly. Ask the librarian to show you where the YA versions of classical literature is shelved and start there. (Your grammar and syntax indicate that you don't have to begin at the children's level.) Also, look for books that have won awards, for example, the Newbery Medal; these will provide cultural literacy which is as important as vocabulary for learning English. Lastly, go to a website like Quizlet.com and use the SAT and GRE vocabulary lists to increase your vocabulary more quickly and facilitate reading more difficult material.
P.S. In English, the name of a language is considered a proper noun and so is always capitalized.
I would also suggest to take a favourite book you have already read in your first language, and to give it a try in English. The fact that it is a favourite read would supply the motivation to finish it, and it will cover some of the inevitable gaps. Then repeat with another one.
I can second Brzk's suggestion - I am practicing my Spanish by reading a Harry Potter book which I've already read in English and because I already know it, I can learn new vocabulary and understand what's happening without going to the dictionary every time.
I'll also suggest the Harry Potter books, if they appeal. My husband, who is a native English speaker and read the books as they were published, has also read the first one in the series in both Italian and French.
I like young adult novels, but might prefer more contemporary environments. However, Harry Potter has the advantage of being more familiar because of the movies.
Some specialist publishers print dual language versions of some books. For example, I own a version of Terry Pratchett's Guards, Guards! that has the English version on the left hand page and the Russian version on the right hand page.
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Marya
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Feb 13, 2020 03:23PM
The Pearl by John Steinbeck
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The Great Gatsby - F. Scott FitzgeraldWhere the Red Fern Grows - Wilson Rawls
Really high-quality children's books are a great way to start: Charlotte's Web; Bridge to Terabithia;
Hi Fatemeh, I used to teach English as a Second Language (ESL). I would ask my students to get a library card and go the the library regularly. Ask the librarian to show you where the YA versions of classical literature is shelved and start there. (Your grammar and syntax indicate that you don't have to begin at the children's level.) Also, look for books that have won awards, for example, the Newbery Medal; these will provide cultural literacy which is as important as vocabulary for learning English. Lastly, go to a website like Quizlet.com and use the SAT and GRE vocabulary lists to increase your vocabulary more quickly and facilitate reading more difficult material.P.S. In English, the name of a language is considered a proper noun and so is always capitalized.
I would also suggest to take a favourite book you have already read in your first language, and to give it a try in English. The fact that it is a favourite read would supply the motivation to finish it, and it will cover some of the inevitable gaps. Then repeat with another one.
I can second Brzk's suggestion - I am practicing my Spanish by reading a Harry Potter book which I've already read in English and because I already know it, I can learn new vocabulary and understand what's happening without going to the dictionary every time.
I'll also suggest the Harry Potter books, if they appeal. My husband, who is a native English speaker and read the books as they were published, has also read the first one in the series in both Italian and French.
I like young adult novels, but might prefer more contemporary environments. However, Harry Potter has the advantage of being more familiar because of the movies.
Some specialist publishers print dual language versions of some books. For example, I own a version of Terry Pratchett's Guards, Guards! that has the English version on the left hand page and the Russian version on the right hand page.
