Books to Read if Working With Youth

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1. Why learn English through literature?

If you desire to go more fluent in English, you need to keep pushing yourself. Reading original English books is a neat way to exercise this! Even if yous are an intermediate English language speaker, you can still utilise simple novels and books to make good progress. Let's accept a look at how reading tin can help you improve:

• Real English: Mod novels bear witness you real examples of how English language is used today. Textbooks do not e'er do this because they are written in a simpler way for non-natives. Novels tin can likewise teach you how to show emotion, express ideas or tell a story in English. Yous tin can also apply literature to find examples of realistic conversations betwixt native speakers.

• Vocabulary: Even if you lot speak English well, there is always more you lot can learn. A adept novel will be simple and like shooting fish in a barrel to empathize, merely it will too innovate you to new words. Reading books gives you lot the chance to acquire vocabulary in the context of a story. This means you can see how words and phrases are connected in everyday chat. Reading modern British or American novels volition teach you all sorts of weird and wacky English language words (similar 'wacky', which ways: 'crazy' or 'eccentric')!

If yous cannot detect a give-and-take or expression in a standard dictionary, so this could mean it is a slang term. Try using UrbanDictionary.com to find out the meaning.

• Accurateness: Great authors are masters of the English language linguistic communication. Their writing uses perfect fashion and course. To improve your grammar and your written English, at that place is no better instructor than a proficient book! When you read books regularly, y'all begin to empathise English more through passive learning.

• Interaction: Past reading a novel in English, you are interacting with the linguistic communication. Many books take several layers of meaning and can exist understood in different means. When you develop your own thoughts and opinions on a story, you create a personal relationship with the linguistic communication. Students ofttimes say that they feel different when reading a volume in English language, even if it has been translated from their own native language.

• Reward: Reading a novel might seem like a lot of work, only it tin can be one of the near rewarding ways to better your English. When you read a novel, you are using English to reach a goal. In other words, you lot are reading and translating in order to understand and enjoy a story. When y'all use English as a applied tool in this way, you are one pace closer to fluency.

2. How to improve your English by reading uncomplicated books

In that location are many different means that you can utilize reading books in English language to amend your language skills. Notwithstanding, information technology is of import to observe the books and methods that piece of work best for you. Remember to choose novels that suit your level of English and personal interests. Reading should be interesting and fun. If you discover it boring or difficult, then change the book! These 8 tips will assist you get started:

1. Find a volume that REALLY interests y'allThere are millions of books out there, and when you starting time reading English literature it is important to choose 1 that y'all will really beloved. Openthebook.com is a website that suggests books for you to read. All you lot have to do is enter your preferences or keywords! You can also use Bookbrowse.com to read extracts (or samples) from current books and so cull which you like best.
2. Make certain the level is right for you lotY'all need to discover a book that is not besides difficult, but not likewise easy. First, try reading two or iii pages. If there are more than than 10 new words per page, and then information technology may be best to choose a simpler book. Reading should not go a boring 'dictionary exercise'. If y'all tin can understand the general meaning and just look up a few new words per folio, then the volume is probably a practiced choice for y'all.
3. Lookout man the movie!If reading an original novel in English feels a bit scary, endeavor watching the film first. Many pop books at present have film versions. These will give you a basic understanding of the story before yous read the book itself. Watching movies is great practice besides!

Near novels are now also bachelor as audiobooks. If you find that reading takes too much time, then why not try listening to an audiobook equally yous bulldoze to work or relax on the sofa? You tin find costless audiobooks on LibriVox.

4. Try dual language booksDual language books have the original English text on 1 folio and the translation into your language on the other. This means that you can apace reference your own language if yous do not sympathise all of the English text. Yous tin buy books of this kind in local shops or online, merely the choice is always limited. Alternatively, you can buy the aforementioned book in English and in your linguistic communication, and then compare the two. You lot can start with these 5 free bilingual novels.
5. Analyse the language in the bookAlways pay attention to how the writer uses words and constructions in English language. Novels use both formal and informal language and are often filled with everyday English expressions. As you read, use a pencil to highlight any unfamiliar words and write them in a notebook. When you are speaking English, attempt to use the words and phrases that you have read in contempo books. Remember to bank check words and phrases from older books as they may sound former-fashioned today.
6. Larn new vocabulary in contextOriginal English books volition contain words you do not know. Before you look them up in a dictionary, try to work out what you think they mean based on the context of the story. In many cases, you will be able to guess the meaning of the give-and-take without having to open your lexicon. However, when writing down new vocabulary, it is a skilful idea to double check.
7. Think about what you accept readWhen yous have finished your volume, take a moment to reflect on what y'all have read. Were there whatever new words from the book that you lot especially liked? Have you written these downwardly in your notebook? If you really enjoyed the book, then would yous like to try another by the same writer or perhaps read about the author'southward life on Wikipedia? Just because you accept finished one book does non mean you lot have reached the end of the road! There is always more than to discover…
8. Choose your next volume!
   When you have finished your first novel, it is time to cull the next 1! If you are feeling confident, you could endeavor to notice a more than avant-garde book. Reading books by the same author (or from the same genre) can brand life easier. Writers frequently use the same words and phrases in their books, and this can assist you lot larn vocabulary through repetition.

Beloved reading in English? Why not create a volume club to read then discuss English language novels with your friends? This can exist done contiguous or via Skype. Try to read one book per month and give each order member a choice!

three. Genres of English books (with examples)

Before yous choose a book to read, it is a adept idea to think nigh your favourite styles or genres. Whether yous like scientific discipline fiction or romance novels, there are thousands of English books out in that location for you lot. The table beneath gives some examples of books from dissimilar genres:

Genre	Meaning	Examples
Science fiction (also called 'sci-fi')	Books near an 'imagined time to come'. Frequently most infinite or other planets	1984 – George Orwell War of the Worlds – HG Wells
Fantasy	Includes things that are not real. For example: magic, or mythical creatures similar dragons	Harry Potter – JK Rowling Lord of the Rings – JRR Tolkien
Romance	This has 2 meanings: – A story about a hero who is faced with challenges – A book about love/relationships	King Arthur and His Knights of the Round Tabular array – Roger Lancelyn Green Jane Eyre – Emma Bronte The Notebook – Nicholas Sparks
Satire	'Satire' is a genre that uses humour to criticise the government or society	Animate being Farm – George Orwell A Clockwork Orange – Anthony Burgess
Horror	A story that has been made to frighten you – a scary story!	Dracula – Bram Stoker The Shining – Stephen Rex
Murder mystery (also called 'whodunit', 'detective novels' or 'criminal offence fiction'	'Murder mysteries' are books about somebody who has been killed. The novel is spent trying to work out who the killer is – this will normally exist revealed at the cease	And so There Were None – Agatha Christie The Hound of the Baskervilles – Arthur Conan Doyle
Thriller	An action novel that aims to leave yous in suspense. It comes from the English language word "thrilling" – which means exciting	The Girl on the Train – Paula Hawkins The Da Vinci Lawmaking – Dan Brown
Non-fiction	A book that is factual and informative, instead of telling an imaginary story. A non-fiction book tin exist about whatsoever topic. For case, historical accounts and biographies are non-fiction	Into the Wild – Jon Karkauer A Brief History of Time – Stephen Hawking Steve Jobs – Walter Isaacson

iv. 5 unproblematic novels for you to read in English

The Old Homo and the Sea – Ernest Hemingway

(Heed to the audiobook here!)

The Old Homo and the Bounding main is the story of an old Cuban fisherman chasing the biggest catch of his life. All lone, and miles out to ocean, he battles with the fish for several days. The book looks at many themes, like 'man vs. nature' and the idea of 'masculinity' (or existence a 'human being'). Information technology is the way this book deals with these themes that makes it one of the most famous and successful novels written in English.

When reading older books, you may observe words or phrases that are not used today. Try a Google search to see if the phrase is still popular in modernistic English. Remember to look at the dates of the published web pages too.

Hemingway uses curt, simple sentences to great event. This means that the book is quite easy and quick to read, simply that information technology is also powerful. Perhaps one tip to have from Ernest Hemingway's writing  is that simple is often all-time when using English. There are few amend authors to teach English language than Ernest Hemingway, and The Old Man and the Sea is 1 of his finest works.

Then he began to pity the bully fish that he had hooked. He is wonderful and foreign and who knows how quondam he is, he idea. […] He cannot know that it is only one human being against him, nor that it is an one-time man. But what a great fish he is and what he will bring in the market if the flesh is good. He took the bait like a male and he pulls similar a male and his fight has no panic in it. I wonder if he has any plans or if he is only as desperate as I am?

In this extract, Hemingway is 'personifying' the fish (giving it human qualities) and the fisherman is comparing it to himself.

Men are shown to exist weak and small compared to nature throughout the novel and fifty-fifty in the championship itself – The Onetime Human and the Sea. Despite man'south technological progress, he is no different to the fish as they both struggle to survive in the dangerous ocean.

Words related to fishing are used a lot in this book, which ways you volition larn some specific jargon related to this topic. In the extract, you can encounter the word 'hooked', which means to catch a fish on a claw. At that place is as well lots of emotional language. For example, 'compassion' means 'to feel distressing', and in this context 'desperate' means 'hopeless'.

1984 – George Orwell

(Listen to the audiobook here!)

George Orwell has a special identify in many British hearts. At that place is even a prize named afterwards him: the Orwell Prize, which awards the all-time political writing across the world.

1984 is a 'dystopian' novel – which ways it is based in an imaginary, unpleasant world. This is the reverse of a 'utopia', which is an imaginary perfect society. Information technology was released in 1948 and looked forward to a time to come where the earth is run by dictators and everybody is constantly beingness monitored. In the volume, the chief character, Winston, tries to fall in dearest and struggle against the government in a world where his every move is being watched.

Since it was released, 1984 has been seen equally a classic – meaning people call back it as one of the best books of all time because of its story and the way it deals with difficult themes. It fifty-fifty created a new word: 'Orwellian', which is used to describe things like to the world described in the book.

Orwell also had several ideas in 1984 that are often used in political discussions in the U.k.. 1 of these is 'doublethink', which means to accept 2 opposite ideas at the aforementioned time. Another is 'thought police', which tin can be used when somebody punishes or judges someone considering of what they think.

From where Winston stood it was only possible to read, picked out on its white face in elegant lettering, the iii slogans of the Party:
War IS PEACE
Liberty IS SLAVERY
IGNORANCE IS Strength

In this extract, Orwell uses 'contradictions'. This means he has taken two opposite ideas and put them together. The Party slogans are all contradictions, and examples of 'doublethink'. 'State of war is peace' means that by always being at state of war and having an enemy, the people will support their government. 'Freedom is slavery' ways that, in the optics of the government, contained men are certain to fail. 'Ignorance is force' is the thought that if the public are ignorant of politics, the authorities can stay strong and in full control.

As y'all can encounter, 1984 deals with some quite heavy political themes – but this should not put you off. Information technology is one of the most popular and entertaining books in the English language

George Orwell as well wrote a list of rules on how to write well. This is used by native English speakers. Why non try using it to improve your writing in English?

Harry Potter – JK Rowling

(Heed to the audiobook here!)

Perchance you have already read the Harry Potter books, or at least seen the films. These books are a must read for all English language students who savor fantasy novels. There are seven books in the series, which go progressively longer and more advanced in their English. It is best to get-go with the outset.

Harry Potter is a story about witches and wizards. All of the main characters go to Hogwarts, which is a school where they are taught how to use magic. The wizarding world of Harry Potter has its ain animals, history, and fifty-fifty words! Some authors similar to create 'nonsense' words – for example, Rowling uses the term 'muggle' to mean 'someone who cannot use magic'.

Maybe it had something to practice with living in a night cupboard, only Harry had always been small and skinny for his age. […] Harry had a thin face, knobbly knees, black pilus and brilliant green eyes. He wore round glasses held together with a lot of scotch tape because of all the times Dudley had punched him on the olfactory organ. The only thing Harry liked near his ain advent was a very thin scar on his brow that was shaped like a bolt of lightning.

In this extract, you tin can encounter Rowling's easy-to-read but descriptive fashion. This detailed business relationship of Harry Potter'due south advent is in the first book – Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone. You can see that these books are a goldmine for practical English words and phrases.

'Skinny' is some other give-and-take for thin, but in a negative fashion (from the word 'peel'). Calling someone 'skinny' means they are also thin, and this is seen every bit insulting. You tin also say: 'He's all skin and basic'. Scotch tape is another word for mucilaginous tape or Sellotape. 'Knobbly knees' is a term for someone who has legs and so skinny that you can see their genu joints clearly sticking out. This term sounds funny in English language, but it tin can be a little insulting. In the extract, Rowling is painting a moving-picture show of Harry as scruffy and lanky – meaning his advent is messy and he is tall and thin.

YouTube has some great videos to assistance yous learn English with pop books such equally Harry Potter. The video beneath is an English language lesson that uses the commencement book:

Almost a Boy – Nick Hornby

(Listen to the audiobook here!)

Nick Hornby is i of the most popular modern English language authors. Many of his books are bestsellers that have also been made into popular movies – including Most a Boy (the film). This is a funny story about an immature human who behaves like a boy and a serious young male child who behaves like a human being. In many means they are opposites, only they become friends and help each other to empathize their ain hearts.

The great affair about novels is that they teach you lot both formal and informal English. Information technology is a expert idea to read new books every bit well as old classics, as they will assistance you learn the modernistic language as it is used today.

Loving yourself and allowing yourself to be loved, was only worth the adventure if the odds were in your favour, but they quite clearly weren't. There were about seventy-9 squillion people in the world, and if you were very lucky, y'all would terminate up beingness loved past xv or twenty of them. And then how smart did you have to exist to work out that it only wasn't worth the gamble?

Hornby writes with a lot of energy and this makes his books exciting to read. In this extract, he shows the cynical mode the main character sees the globe – which ways he does non trust people's intentions.

About a Boy uses a lot of modern slang words and phrases. 'Squillion' is a slang term used to say that there are lots and lots of something. Proverb there are 'seventy-nine squillion people in the world' is an example of 'hyperbole', or exaggeration. Hornby also says 'if the odds were in your favour'. This is a phrase often used in England. If the odds are in your favour, it ways something is probable to turn out well for you. It comes from the gambling term 'odds' (adventure), which is a way to show how probable something is to happen.

The Great Gatsby – F. Scott Fitzgerald

(Listen to the audiobook here!)

F. Scott Fitzgerald is an example of how poetic you can exist with the English language language. Fix in 1920s America, this novel looks at the ideas of love and the American Dream. It is one of the all-time-selling books ever written in English.

When F. Scott Fitzgerald died, the Not bad Gatsby had sold less than 25,000 copies. Upon receiving his last payment, the author said: 'I am a forgotten homo'. The book has since sold 25 million copies worldwide!

Although The Great Gatsby is harder to read than the other books mentioned hither, you tin can learn many new words from information technology. Fitzgerald uses a broad range of vocabulary and images to bring out the beauty in the language. This book may be a little complicated in places, but the story is interesting and will keep you turning the pages!

 This is a valley of ashes – a fantastic farm where ashes grow like wheat into ridges and hills and grotesque gardens; where ashes accept the forms of houses and chimneys and rising fume and, finally, with a transcendent endeavour, of men who move dimly and already crumbling through the powdering air.

In this extract, you lot can encounter how poetic Fitzgerald's writing can be. There is a 2013 film version of this book, which y'all may like to watch earlier you read it. YouTube comedy channel Thug Notes has a plot summary for The Corking Gatsby (encounter below).  As these videos use lots of slang words, you may demand to press the 'CC' button to see the English subtitles.

five. Common writing techniques you lot should know

At that place are many 'literary techniques' that are used in novels. Although they are used in literature from all across the world, they have different names in different languages. Why not endeavor using some of these techniques to bring your own English to life?

Personification

Personification is when you give human characteristics to something that is non human. This might be objects or animals.

Example in a novel: 'Her middle was divided between concern for her sister, and resentment against all the others.' (Pride and Prejudice – Jane Austen)

In this instance, Jane Austen is giving the graphic symbol's center human features. This shows the emotion her worry is causing her.

Examples in everyday conversation:

• 'Honey is bullheaded'. This is a common English saying, meaning that when you beloved someone, y'all practise not run into their faults.
• 'Fourth dimension waits for no ane'. A philosophical way of telling someone to exercise something earlier they run out of fourth dimension.

Metaphor

A metaphor is when you describe one thing equally something else to create a more memorable clarification of it. This can exist used all of the time in chat.

Example in a novel: 'Information technology is the east, and Juliet is the sunday.' (Romeo and Juliet – William Shakespeare)

Romeo and Juliet is one of the most famous romance stories ever. In this line, Romeo is comparing Juliet to the rising lord's day to testify how much he loves and worships her.

Examples in spoken English language:

• 'A center of stone'. A way to draw someone who is unkind or cruel.
• 'Apple of my eye'. Something that you dear more than than anything or anyone else.
• 'Jumping for joy'. This ways 'really happy'.

Simile

A simile compares two things by saying item A is like item B. It is oftentimes confused with a metaphor. The difference is that you are non describing something as actually beingness something else. And so, if y'all were to say 'I am an ox' that would be a metaphor. If you say 'I am as potent as an ox' or 'I am strong, similar an ox' that would be a simile.

Example in a novel: 'Her romantic mind was like tiny boxes, ane within the other' (Peter Pan – J.Thou. Barrie). This is a lovely simile, which shows the many layers of the human mind. It also shows how in her 'romantic mind' she is always discovering new feelings – every time she opens a box. With this quote, Barrie shows how a simile can exist used to draw something beautifully.

Examples in everyday chat:

• 'Proficient as gold'. This is used to say somebody is behaving very well, or even perfectly. Information technology is often used to describe expert children at school.
• 'Decorated every bit a bee'. This is a fashion to say somebody is very busy, as bees are known to piece of work hard. Both 'busy equally a bee' and 'good equally gold' are examples of 'alliteration', which is where words with the same starting letter of the alphabet are used together.
• 'As snug as a bug in a rug'. People say this when they are comfortable in bed. It is besides a good example of rhyming in the English language!

Hyperbole

Hyperbole is when yous exaggerate on purpose to show how important something is. 'Exaggerate' ways to brand something seem bigger, meliorate or worse than it is in reality. Hyperbole is often used in native English conversations, just exist careful not to overuse information technology!

Example in a novel: 'People moved slowly then. At that place was no hurry then, for in that location was nowhere to go, nothing to buy and no coin to purchase information technology with, nothing to encounter exterior the boundaries of Maycomb County' (To Kill a Mockingbird – Harper Lee)

In this example, the author is proverb in that location is zero to buy and zip to see. Of course, this is an exaggeration: there are at least a few things to buy and see! The hyperbole here makes the scene appear desolate – which ways empty and dour.

Examples in everyday conversation:

• 'Her brain is the size of a pea'. This is an insult. It means someone is very stupid or dim.
• 'I could eat a equus caballus'. This is a phrase used to say 'I am very hungry' – we do not actually consume horses in England!
• 'I've told y'all a million times'. If yous have told somebody something several times and they do not recall or understand, then this is what you say!

Personification, metaphor, simile and hyperbole are the about common 'literary techniques', simply at that place are many others. Bank check out Literarydevices.com to come across all of the techniques you can detect in English books. Every bit your skills develop, you tin utilize these 'decorations' to bring your spoken and written English to life!

Download: This blog mail is available as a user-friendly and portable PDF that yous can take anywhere. Click here to go a copy. (Download)

James Firby
— Staff Writer.

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