Effective Reading

Reading – and listening to – literature can support your English studies in many ways.The ideas and opinions which you discover can give you insight into countries and cultures where English is used every day.The language you discover while listening or reading can help enhance your own use of English. Every year, BBC World Service broadcasts many short stories, plays and abridged novels in English, as well as discussions about literature.This booklet is designed to show you how you can use these programmes to increase your understanding of English literature and to improve your own use of English language.

• improve your general understanding of literature.
• develop strategies for dealing with unfamiliar words.
• recognise the sequence of events in a story or novel.
• identify the narrator’s point of view.
• interpret mood and atmosphere in literature.
• find opportunities for speaking, based on your reading or listening.
• improve your own creative writing in English.

How to use

Each page looks at a different area related to literature. On each page you’ll find …

• a short introduction which explains the topic.
• an extract from one of the BBC World Service’s literature programmes.
• a reading task to accompany the extract(s).
• key tips to help you read more effectively.
• a task to help you practise what has been explained.

1. Making the most of the cover
2. Getting started
3. Following the plot
   
4. Finding the right perspective
5. Getting into the atmosphere
6. Talking about reading
7. Writing your own stories

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On the final page you will find a glossary explaining some of the words and phrases in the booklet.Words in the glossary are underlined.

to enhance (verb)
to improve something.We often talk about enhancing skills or enhancing our appearance.

an abridged novel or story (adjective) verb = to abridge a story
a novel or story which has been shortened, often for publication in a magazine or broadcast on the radio.

1. Making the most of the cover
2. Getting started
   
3. Following the plot
   
4. Finding the right perspective
   
5. Getting into the atmosphere
   
6. Talking about reading
7. Writing your own stories

More Information Click Here