Reading and books

The Book Thief tells a story about how books have the ability to feed the soul.  It is a memorable read that can be read all in one go.  To buy your own copy go to Amazon. Book Thief: Setting and protagonists The author Markus Zusak uses the backdrop of World War II Germany as…

It is said that one of the better methods for bettering English is too outdated or academic, this method is avidly reading books page by page in their original language.  One example of a great author who is rising in popularity is, John Green, a writer, a blogger and American critic, from Indianapolis to be…

If you’re looking for an advanced English grammar book for secondary schools, Advanced Learners Grammar is for you. Published by Longman in 2003, this book is an excellent resource for perfecting your grammar skills. You can purchase it directly here.  What does it cover? I recommend this book if you have a B2 or intermediate English level and…

Learning the idioms (or idiomatic phrases) and phrasal verbs of English can help you enrich your language skills and is especially important if you’re looking to speak English at an intermediate or advanced level (B1 or B2). Memorising idioms (or rather, expressions, which are integral to English fluency and don’t always have direct translations) and…

If you loved Lord of the Rings then you can’t miss out on the second epiosde of the Hobbit trilogy, obviously in English and, in this case, with subtitles as well given the complicated array of characters and accents. The Hobbit – The Desolation of Smaug In The desolation of Smaug the band led by Thorin…

One of the most important things you can do to learn English is read. Reading is actually the best way to internalise English grammar so you can begin to use it naturally and correctly. However, I’m not saying you should go out and try to tackle some of the great classic novels out there by…

A great deal of English instructional books out there are written under the assumption that you’re being supported in some way by a teacher, so they’re not likely to be a helpful or feasible resource if you’re studying from home. Sometimes what you need is a reference – a book that lists key grammar points…

Reading the classics in English literature is a fun way to expand your vocabulary in English.  This activity is not reserved for advanced students.  There are the ‘readers’ or ‘graded readers’ that transform the classics into versions that are accessible to beginners (every reader has a specific level). Classics for advanced students Pride and Prejudice…

I’ll let you know my opinion straight away. It is absolutely possible to learn English in a month (or rather, make a vast improvement in your level) – but it’s also very, very difficult. It takes time, determination, the right tools, and even access to a native speaker. The book by Matteo Salvo Lots of…

We’ve already seen in a different article how to download ebooks (novels, nonfiction) to read as a fun learning activity. Now let’s have a look at where to find grammar and other textbooks in ebook format that cover topics specific to learning English. Grammar books in PDF format, textbooks to download Free English Grammar by Mary Ansell Basic…