by Laura Jones
Published on April 11, 2024
13 resources for English reading practice
Reading is a fundamental (and often free) aspect of learning a language. Not only can it increase your vocabulary, but it can also improve your grammar and overall comprehension. Regardless of whether you’re a beginner or an advanced learner, fostering a regular reading practice can turbocharge your English skills.
In this guide, we’ll offer all the resources you need to get started — from where to find simple news articles in English to how you can practice reading more colloquial forms of English.
Beginner learners should start with materials that are engaging, yes, but above all comprehensible. The British Council offers graded reading texts for beginners; helpfully, each text is followed by tasks to check your understanding. News in Levels is a great place to find short and straightforward news articles, and it even includes explanations of tricky vocabulary.
Need to focus more on grammar? One of the best ways to practice past simple tenses is to read a novel or short stories in English. To start, try reading texts in English that you’re already familiar with in your native tongue — especially simple stories aimed at a younger audience. The Little Prince and Charlotte’s Web are two classic examples, but plenty of others exist, too. If you use an e-reader, you can check vocabulary as you go along.
Another idea is to look for dual-language books, which have English text on one page and the text in your own language on the opposite page. This makes it even easier to follow along.
As you progress to an intermediate level, it’s time to start using reading materials that challenge you while still providing necessary support. Tempting though it may be, diving headfirst into an English translation of War and Peace might not be the best idea at this stage.
Young Adult (YA) novels are often written in a more straightforward manner than books intended for more mature readers (though they’re certainly not subpar in terms of quality). Reading YA novels is thus an excellent way to expand your vocabulary and hone your knowledge of past tenses. Our recommendations include John Green’s The Fault in Our Stars and Markus Zusak’s The Book Thief.
If you’re looking for news articles, Breaking News English is a great online reading resource. It’s full of up-to-date articles graded for different levels of learners, and each article comes with a quiz and vocabulary work. Levels three and four are suitable for intermediate learners.
Alternatively, check out The Learning Network from the New York Times. While not specifically geared toward people learning English, the articles are designed to be used in the classroom and are often written by students.
To focus more on present tenses, colloquial language and dialogue, read comic strips. Though the language often contains slang, comics are generally easier to follow thanks to the images.
Finally, to focus on imperatives and learn vocabulary connected to something you love, follow instructions or learn to do something in English. If you’re into cooking, follow a recipe. If you like origami, seek out a book or website with written instructions on how to fold your next sculpture.
When you reach an advanced level, you should be able to read most books and newspaper articles you come across in English. The trick lies in tailoring what you read to better help you learn the vocabulary you need.
One way to practice more conversational English is to dive into a Reddit forum or the comments section on a YouTube video. Reading blogs on topics you’re interested in is another way to discover more colloquial uses of language.
If you’re already reading books, think about joining a book club. There are many English-language book clubs online if you can’t find one locally. Not only does being in a club motivate you to finish the books, but it also makes you think more deeply about your reading comprehension and allows you to practice any vocabulary you’ve learned.
By exploring a variety of online resources tailored to beginner, intermediate and advanced learners, you can develop your English skills through reading. Start small with simplified stories and short news articles. Then, move on to reading YA novels and learning new skills by following English instructions. Finally, when you’re ready, flex your comprehension muscles by joining a book club. Happy reading!
