Reading can be the most important and fun thing you do to develop your vocabulary and increase your contact with English - both vitally important!

But how should you go about choosing what you read if you're doing this on your own? Today's podcast will show you how.

The Importance of Choosing the Right Reading Material:

• Selecting engaging reading materials for effective self-study matters more than you can imagine! It can literally make or break you!
• What you read should capture your interest and keep you motivated.

My Story: The Power of Choosing Engaging Material:

• How I accidentally picked up a book on podcasting. (After returning a book that failed - previous episode: Are You Feeling Stuck With Your CELPIP Prep? Don't make this mistake!
• Remember: select reading material that genuinely interests you.

Key Ingredients for Effective Self-Study:

• The critical element of a self-paced reading plan is choosing material you're genuinely interested in.
• The reading material should be something you look forward to and have a hard time putting down.

Solutions for Uninspiring Reading Material:

Request Change/Provide Feedback:

• Kindly communicate your dissatisfaction to teachers or your school.
• A good school values student feedback and may offer alternative reading options.

Practice Skimming and Scanning:

• If changing the material isn't possible, practice skimming and scanning to make reading less tedious.

Creating a Reading Habit:

• A reading habit can be as great as my coffee habit!
• Reading in English can - and should be - enjoyable and is an effective way to enhance vocabulary and language skills.

Finding the Right Reading Material:

1. Follow Your Interest:

• Look for material that genuinely interests you.
• Check the book cover and blurb for initial interest.

Check the Table of Contents:

• Look at the table of contents to ensure the topics align with your interests and goals.

Get Random:

This great idea come from ontesol - How to Plan Extensive Reading Lessons

• Randomly open the book to read a few pages to assess comprehension and vocabulary level.
• Repeat this test in different sections of the book.

Beware of Being Too Easy:

• Don't rely on material that is too easy, as it may not help in vocabulary growth.

Conclusion:

• Follow your interest in reading materials.
• If a book loses your interest, feels overwhelming, or becomes a chore, it's essential to switch to something new.

This approach is crucial not only for building an enjoyable reading habit but also for effective vocabulary building for the CELPIP exam.

Thank you for listening!

Mentioned in this episode:

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