If you struggle with reading in English and don’t
know where to start, let me make it easier for you. Here are the reasons why you should pick up a
children’s book in English. Hey, my fellow English learner! You’re watching Fluent English with Lady
Giraffe. I’m Olga, and I love reading, especially in foreign languages. Children’s books hold a
special place in my heart because for me they are the easiest and most enjoyable way to learn a
language. However, quite a few people think that child
ren’s books are dumb and suitable only for
kids. Some are 100% sure that these kinds of books are extremely boring. Yes, it’s entirely possible
that reading children’s books is not for you. But how would you know without even trying? First
of all, what do I mean by a “children’s book?” There’s no exact definition, but to make it easier
for us, let’s say that it’s anything written for kids and teens from ages, let's say, 5 to 17. I
know, that's a lot. And a lot of those books have illustrati
ons in them. I love pictures in books.
They're so nice to look at. That’s not their only advantage. They can help you understand what’s
going on in the plot better, and you’ll memorize new vocabulary faster and on a deeper level. If
you add a picture to a text, it makes learning vocabulary more effective. And some illustrated
books are simply gorgeous to just look at and a pleasure to read. Another thing is: I like that
vocabulary and grammar in children’s books are simpler than in adult bo
oks but not dumbed down.
You still come across a wide range of grammar structures and words in different contexts. You
ca't deny that some books are way easier to read than others. Like, for example, a book aimed at
a six-year-old will be way easier to read than a teen novel. And don’t forget that children’s books
can also be from a lot of different genres, from fairytales and fantasy books to detective novels
and nonfiction. You have a ton of books to choose from. The thing is, when you st
art reading books
in another language, you probably don’t know a lot of words. And without extensive vocabulary you
can’t enjoy reading adult books properly. Looking up every other word in the dictionary while you’re
reading is torture. Believe me, I’ve been there. And I'm still there, in some aspects. And even
though children’s books can also be tough to read, especially at the beginning, they require less
knowledge and less effort from you to start. The good thing is that you can improve
your
vocabulary by simply reading regularly. And you don’t even need to study new words. Just think
about it. You can just read and enjoy yourself, and you don't need to study a lot. But if you
want to become more aware of new vocabulary, you can look up some of the new words and write
their translation down right right on the pages of the books. Children’s books often have large font
sizes and plenty of space to make notes. There’s another really awesome thing about children’s
books. They
are often being published in long series. A series of books allows you to get used
to the writing style. You'll probably enjoy the books more simply because you start to care about
the characters and their journeys. Also, you’ll definitely stumble upon the same words and grammar
structures again and again. This will boost your vocabulary and grammar knowledge much faster.
Besides, children’s books are usually shorter than adult books. You'll get the satisfaction of
finishing them faster. I
t’s such a nice feeling to finally read a book in another language. It always
gives me a fresh boost of motivation to continue learning. Anyway, have I mentioned that children’s
books are fun? They're extremely fun! And again, there are so many different books aimed at
children out there. They are a joy to read even for adults. I'm 35, almost. And returning to
the books you read as a child can give you so much comfort and nostalgia. And some children’s books
are free and easily available on
the internet. I’m talking about children’s classics, of course.
These books are classics for a reason. Although, I probably wouldn’t recommend that you start
your reading journey with them. Older books can have some really old-fashioned vocabulary and
some grammar structures you need to get used to. But I believe that they are so worth your time
and effort. If children’s books are really and truly not your cup of tea, there are some other
options, like graded readers, for example. Some peo
ple prefer to improve their reading skills
by reading books with simplified vocabulary and grammar. There are plenty of graded readers for
English learners now. This wasn’t how I started my reading journey in English more than a decade ago,
and that’s not how I’m learning to read in another language right now. I’ve come to enjoy reading
children’s books of different genres and for different ages in English and other languages.
I find stories in graded readers a bit boring. Children’s books
are much smarter than you think,
and you can become a better English learner with every book you finish. And not only because of all
the vocabulary and grammar, but also because maybe you’ll discover a child-like curiosity again.
And I truly believe that curiosity is what makes us better learners. What do you think? Do you
enjoy reading children's books? Or do you find them silly? If you need a few recommendations for
children's and adult books, check out this video next. Thank you so much
for watching, and see
you next time with more awesome language content!
Comments
Great video thanks teacher Olga