10 Ways to Improve Your English Reading Skills

Reading is one of the foundational skills in learning English. It helps you expand your vocabulary, understand grammar in context and develop a deeper appreciation for the language. Whether you’re reading for pleasure, work or study, improving your reading skills has a huge effect on your overall English language ability.

You need to be able to read in English to understand all English written text, whether you are trying to read a menu in a restaurant, a traffic sign in the road, a letter from the bank or an email from a friend.

Reading is a passive skill of language learning (the other passive skill is listening). This means you are receiving the language and understanding it, rather than producing it yourself. For this reason, learners often find that reading is the easiest of the language skills to practise, as it is doesn’t have the accents or speech styles to confuse comprehension, as you do with listening.

In some ways, reading is the most accessible of the ways to practise a language, and improving your reading skills will help improve your speaking and writing too. We’ve listed some fiction books for different ability levels, along with some newspapers, which will help you practise your reading skills.

Read on to explore some useful and creative ways to improve your English reading skills.

Improving your English reading skills

All reading material counts towards your reading practice, whether you enjoy grappling with novels and short stories, reading newspapers or browsing websites in English.

Reading will help you to develop a sense of which words are best used in which situations. Slight variations in nuance will become clearer the more you read English. It is helpful to slowly explore different situations and contexts through your reading so that you are exposed to more vocabulary.

Reading and writing skills are closely related. Whenever you develop your reading skills, you will also improve your writing skills because you will improve your understanding of grammar and how to construct sentences.

Begin your journey to improve English reading skills by selecting reading materials that match your current proficiency level. Choose books, articles or online resources that are specifically designed for non-native speakers that offer simplified language and clear explanations.

Starting with materials at your level will build confidence and motivation as you progress in your reading journey.

Using books to improve reading skills

Beginners should try reading children’s books for their simple grammar and vocabulary. These books are often written with repetitive sentence structures, making them ideal for learners who are just starting out. The visual context provided pictures also helps students understand the meaning of new words, even if they are unfamiliar with the text.

Books for beginners

Children’s books often include familiar themes and stories. Reading these books regularly can help you develop basic reading comprehension and expand your vocabulary. Some good options for children’s books that can help beginners learn English include:

- “The Very Hungry Caterpillar” by Eric Carle
  This classic book uses simple language and repetition, along with vibrant illustrations, to help beginners learn basic vocabulary related to food, days of the week and numbers.
- “Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?” by Bill Martin Jr. and Eric Carle
  The repetitive structure and rhythmic text in this book make it perfect for beginners. It introduces colours and animals in an easy-to-follow format.
- “Goodnight Moon” by Margaret Wise Brown
  This book is ideal for beginners because of its simple, repetitive sentences and the rhythm that helps with pronunciation. It also teaches basic vocabulary related to bedtime and common household items.
- “The Snowy Day” by Ezra Jack Keats
  This book is perfect for beginners because it tells a simple, repetitive story about a young boy experiencing a snowy day, with clear, easy-to-understand language and beautiful illustrations.
- “The Very Busy Spider” by Eric Carle
  This book has simple, repetitive language and focuses on a spider building a web. It’s great for learning vocabulary related to nature and animals, while also improving sentence comprehension and structure.
- “Green Eggs and Ham” by Dr. Seuss
  Dr. Seuss books are great for English learners due to their simple vocabulary and repetitive rhymes. “Green Eggs and Ham” is especially useful for learning common phrases, sentence structures, and the power of repetition for memorisation.
- “The Cat in the Hat” by Dr. Seuss
  This popular book contains simple sentences and is filled with rhyming words, making it easier for learners to remember and understand English vocabulary, pronunciation and sentence patterns.
- “If You Give a Mouse a Cookie” by Laura Numeroff
  This book follows a simple, logical sequence of events, making it a great tool for teaching sequencing and basic vocabulary. The repeated cause-and-effect structure helps reinforce grammar concepts.
- “The Snowman” by Raymond Briggs
  A wordless picture book (with some text), The Snowman relies heavily on images to tell the story. It’s ideal for practicing comprehension, and interpreting meaning from context, which can enhance vocabulary acquisition.
- “Oh, the Places You’ll Go!” by Dr. Seuss
  Another Dr. Seuss classic, this book uses simple, motivational language to encourage readers. It’s great for practicing the future tense and positive expressions, while its simple rhyming structure helps learners with pronunciation and fluency.
- “Llama Llama Red Pajama” by Anna Dewdney
  This book uses simple, repetitive language with a story that’s easy to follow. It introduces everyday vocabulary related to home, family and emotions, making it accessible for adult learners looking to expand their vocabulary in a relatable context.
- “The Very Quiet Cricket” by Eric Carle
  This book uses minimal language, making it a great choice for beginners. The story is about a cricket who eventually learns to chirp, helping readers learn new vocabulary about nature and sound.

Books for intermediate students

Intermediate students will benefit from reading books for teenagers and young adults, such as the Harry Potter series. Other good options include:

“The Hunger Games” by Suzanne Collins
A gripping dystopian novel with clear, accessible language and themes of survival and society, ideal for expanding vocabulary related to politics and human rights.
“The Fault in Our Stars” by John Green
A heartwarming and easy-to-read novel that deals with love, illness and loss, helping learners improve their understanding of emotions and modern expressions.
“Percy Jackson & The Olympians: The Lightning Thief” by Rick Riordan
A fast-paced adventure with modern conversational English and a mix of mythology and everyday vocabulary, perfect for building confidence in reading.
“Wonder” by R.J. Palacio
A touching story about empathy and acceptance, using straightforward language that teaches vocabulary related to the emotions and society.
“Eleanor & Park” by Rainbow Rowell
A relatable contemporary novel with simple dialogue and themes of love, identity and bullying, great for practicing everyday expressions.
“Matilda” by Roald Dahl
Though often classified as a children’s book, Matilda is a great option for intermediate learners. The narrative is full of character descriptions, school-related vocabulary and moral lessons, making it a great read for expanding vocabulary.
“The Giver” by Lois Lowry
A thought-provoking dystopian novel with clear writing that introduces complex ideas and vocabulary related to freedom, memory and society.
“Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland” by Lewis Carroll
A whimsical, classic book that uses accessible language and introduces learners to creative, imaginative vocabulary.

These books provide an engaging, educational mix of language, themes and cultural context, perfect for intermediate English learners.

There are also many contemporary novels not aimed at children, such as The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown, that are ideal for intermediate learners due to their use of simple vocabulary and sentence structures, easy-to-understand stories and basic narrative techniques. Some more simply written books for adults:

“The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency” by Alexander McCall Smith
This is a mystery novel set in Botswana about Africa’s first female detective. The writing is straightforward and the story is lighthearted yet engaging, making it a great choice for learners looking for an easy-to-follow mystery with some cultural insights.
“Before I Go to Sleep” by S.J. Watson
A psychological thriller where the protagonist loses her memory every day. The language is direct, with a focus on suspense. It’s a good book for learners who enjoy a good mystery with a clear writing style.
“The Alchemist” by Paulo Coelho
This philosophical novel follows a young shepherd on a journey to find treasure. The language is simple and the story is rich in allegories, making it suitable for intermediate learners.
Can You Keep a Secret?” by Sophie Kinsella
A funny story about a woman who accidentally shares her secrets with a man on a plane, not realising that he is her company’s CEO. The writing is accessible and humorous.
“The Girl on the Train” by Paula Hawkins
This psychological thriller is gripping yet easy to follow. It uses straightforward language to tell the story of a mystery of a missing person. The short chapters make it accessible for intermediate learners.
“The Firm” by John Grisham
This legal thriller revolves around a lawyer who gets caught up in a dangerous web of corruption. It’s written in simple language with an easy-to-follow plot with suspense to keep readers hooked.
“Shutter Island” by Dennis Lehane
A psychological thriller about an investigation into the disappearance of a patient from a mental institution on an isolated island. The language is simple and the story unfolds in a clear way.
“Bridget Jones’s Diary” by Helen Fielding
This novel follows the life of Bridget Jones and her struggles with love and career. Written in a humorous and conversational style, it’s filled with relatable situations and simple language.

Books for advanced students

Advanced students could try classic literature, such as Jane Austen with her exquisite use of language and humour; George Orwell is another good choice, with his clear, straight forward language and interesting political and sociological content. Some good options for advanced students:

“Pride and Prejudice” by Jane Austen
This classic is perfect for exploring themes of class, marriage and social expectations, all while challenging your language skills with its elegant prose, subtle humour and rich vocabulary.
“1984” by George Orwell
Orwell’s dystopian novel introduces complex ideas about surveillance, government control and individual freedom, with clear yet thought-provoking language.
“Brave New World” by Aldous Huxley
This novel explores a futuristic society that values happiness above all else. The language is sophisticated and its deep philosophical themes make it a great read for advanced learners.
“To Kill a Mockingbird” by Harper Lee
A story about racial inequality, this novel uses straightforward language to explore serious topics like justice, morality and social change. It’s rich in dialect, making it ideal for advanced readers.
“Jane Eyre” by Charlotte Brontë
This novel delves into themes of love, independence and morality, told via a first-person narrative. The language is rich and complex, ideal for those looking to explore 19th-century English.
“The Great Gatsby” by F. Scott Fitzgerald
A novel that explores the American Dream, wealth and societal expectations in the Jazz Age. The language is poetic and symbolic, making it an engaging read for advanced learners.
“The Brothers Karamazov” by Fyodor Dostoevsky
This philosophical novel tackles deep themes of faith and morality. Dostoevsky’s writing is complex, and its exploration of psychology makes it an excellent choice for advanced students.
“Wuthering Heights” by Emily Brontë
Darkly emotional with a complex structure, the story deals with love, revenge and isolation. The sophisticated language makes it ideal for exploring complex themes and narrative techniques.
“The Picture of Dorian Gray” by Oscar Wilde
Wilde’s novel explores themes of vanity, morality and hedonism. The writing is witty and rich in dialogue, making it ideal for exploring sophisticated English language and irony.
“Rebecca” by Daphne Du Maurier
The protagonist marries a wealthy widower and moves to his estate, Manderley. She soon finds herself overshadowed by the memory of his first wife, whose presence seems to haunt every corner.

These sophisticated novels provide excellent opportunities to challenge your language skills and explore complex themes, characters and social issues. They offer an exciting blend of language challenges and intellectual depth, ideal for advanced English students.

Newspapers in the UK

Newspapers offer a wealth of opportunity for reading practice. News stories and light-hearted features will give you an idea of when to use serious language and how to use lighter language – and the appropriate time for both.

Tabloids, also often called ‘red top’ newspapers, such as The Daily Mirror and The Sun, are ideal for intermediate students, as they use simple vocabulary and informal language. Their themes often include celebrity gossip and other light-hearted, ‘easy’ topics.

Be aware though, some tabloids, such as The Star, can use heavy slang and colloquial language. Some of the language will be difficult to understand, though will give excellent exposure to politically incorrect humour in popular culture!

Advanced students should try broadsheet newspapers, such as The Times, The Telegraph, The Independent and The Guardian. They make use of a wider vocabulary and more formal language, while discussing world affairs and more intellectually demanding topics.

Broadsheet newspapers will improve your knowledge of ‘proper English‘ using grammatically correct structures and subtle, nuanced language. ‘Red top’ newspapers or traditional tabloids could help to improve your use of casual language and slang.

Note that newspapers are usually connected to a political stance in the UK. For example, The Times, The Telegraph and The Sun are more right wing (Conservative), while The Guardian and The Mirror are more left wing (Labour). The Mail is perceived to be very right wing in its stance. The Independent, as its name suggests, is politically independent.

These newspapers can all be found online, though some of them are behind paywalls (i.e. you need to subscribe and pay to read the stories). The content on The Guardian is currently free to read. It’s also a great idea to challenge your English skills by reading the free news and features on the BBC website or app.

10 Tips to Improve Your Reading Skills

1. Read a Variety of Texts
One of the most effective ways to improve your reading skills is to read widely. Instead of sticking to one genre or type of text, mix it up with novels, articles, blogs, newspapers, textbooks and social media posts. This will expose you to different writing styles, vocabulary and sentence structures.

For example, reading fiction can help you understand narrative structures and dialogue, reading news articles improves your ability to grasp factual, formal language, while reading textbooks helps you get to grips with academic language. The more varied your reading material, the broader your vocabulary and comprehension will become.

Comics strips and cartoons are another good way to have fun whilst improving your reading and comprehension skills. English language cartoons and comics offer visual clues about the context, which can be extra helpful for learners. For example, Garfield cartoons, super hero comics and the Beano. The Asterix cartoon books are also excellent, though a more difficult due to their humour and language puns.

If you can understand the jokes in newspaper cartoons, you are on your way to using the English language for humour and puns!

2. Read Aloud
Reading aloud may feel uncomfortable at first, but it’s an effective way to improve pronunciation and comprehension. When you read aloud, you’re not only processing the words, but also speaking them, which improves fluency.

Start with simple sentences, then move on to more complex paragraphs as you feel comfortable. This technique also helps reinforce new vocabulary, as hearing and saying the words together makes them easier to remember.

3. Use Technology to Your Advantage
There are many apps and tools designed to help you improve your reading skills. Apps like Duolingo, Readlang or LingQ offer interactive reading exercises that can be tailored to your level. These tools often allow you to click on words you don’t know for instant translations or definitions, which helps you learn English in context.

Additionally, e-readers like Kindle have built-in dictionaries, so you can easily look up unfamiliar words while reading. This is a great way to build your vocabulary without interrupting your reading flow.

4. Practice Speed Reading
While comprehension is important, speed reading can help you become more efficient in your reading. This skill focuses on improving your reading speed without sacrificing understanding. You can start by setting a timer and trying to read a page in a shorter amount of time each time, gradually increasing your speed.

Use apps like Spreeder to practice, or simply try reading without pausing to look up every unfamiliar word. Sometimes context can help you guess meanings, so it can be more useful to just get the gist of a sentence than worry over every adjective or adverb. As you practice, you’ll learn to quickly identify the key points and main ideas of the text.

5. Read and Summarise
Another excellent technique for improving reading comprehension is summarising what you read. After finishing a section, take a moment to write down a brief summary of the main points. This helps you focus on key information and ensures that you’re not just passively reading but actively processing the content.

You can even make a habit of writing down any new vocabulary and expressions that you come across. The more you summarise, the better you’ll become at identifying the key themes in the text, improving both your reading comprehension and your ability to retain information.

6. Join a Book Club or Reading Group
If you enjoy socialising, joining a book club or a reading group can be a great way to motivate yourself to read more regularly. Many online platforms, such as Goodreads, offer reading groups where members discuss books and share recommendations.

This provides an excellent opportunity to talk about the text, ask questions, and get different perspectives on what you’ve read. Additionally, discussing books with others helps reinforce what you’ve learned and improves both your speaking and listening skills, creating a more well-rounded language experience.

7. Focus on Context and Guessing Meaning
When you come across an unfamiliar word, don’t rush to look it up in a dictionary. Instead, try to guess the meaning from the context. Pay attention to the sentences around the unfamiliar word—are there any clues that can help you understand what it means?

This not only improves your comprehension but also trains you to become more intuitive with the language. As you practice this technique, you’ll find that you can make educated guesses about new words, which helps you read more efficiently and with less interruption.

8. Set Reading Goals
To stay motivated, set achievable reading goals for yourself. For example, challenge yourself to read for 15 minutes every day or finish one book per month. You can also aim to read a certain number of pages or articles each week.

Tracking your progress can help you stay on target and provide a sense of accomplishment. Make sure to start with manageable goals and gradually increase the difficulty as you feel more confident in your reading skills.

9. Read Along with Audiobooks
Pairing an audiobook with its corresponding text is an excellent way to improve your reading skills. Listening to the narration while reading along allows you to follow the correct pronunciation, intonation, and rhythm of the language.

Audiobooks are particularly useful when you’re reading a challenging text or want to improve your comprehension of natural spoken English. Services like Audible or Librivox offer thousands of audiobooks, and many of them include a digital version of the text.

10. Take Notes While Reading
If you come across key information, interesting vocabulary or important grammar structures while reading, take notes. Keeping a notebook with you while you read allows you to jot down phrases, words or sentences that stand out.

Reviewing these notes later helps reinforce new knowledge and gives you a quick reference guide when studying. This technique is especially useful for academic or professional reading, where remembering specific details is important.

Variety is key to improving English reading skills

Improving your reading skills in English requires regular practice, variety and engagement. By reading different types of texts, using technology, practicing speed reading and actively focusing on context, you’ll gradually become a more confident reader.

Reading English literature of any type also challenges your comprehension skills by exposing you to different writing styles, genres and narrative structures. Whether you’re trying to understand complex sentences in a novel or deciphering technical jargon in a news article, each reading experience improves your ability to understand and interpret written texts.

Over time, you’ll develop stronger reading comprehension skills that enable you to extract meaning from diverse sources of English literature.

Applying the techniques in this page will not only help you understand English better but also make reading more enjoyable. With regular reading, you’ll soon be tackling more complex texts and enjoying the benefits of a richer vocabulary.

Share your thoughts

What are your favourite ways to practise reading?
Which strategies or tools (e.g. reading apps, dictionaries, audiobooks) have you found most helpful in improving your reading skills?
How do you feel about incorporating a variety of reading materials (books, articles, blogs, etc.) into your routine?
Do you have a favourite UK newspaper?
What changes are you planning to make to improve your reading habits?
Have you tried reading aloud or discussing what you’ve read with others to enhance your understanding of a text?
How can you set realistic reading goals for yourself in English, and what milestones would you like to achieve?