English Stories to Improve Your English: Suggestions You Will Love
Reading is one of the most effective ways to learn a new language. As an English learner, you’re in luck as there are plenty of English stories out there to help you improve your English language skills.
In this article, find out how reading can help you improve your English. We’ve also provided a list of great stories to get you started on your reading journey!
How Reading English Stories Can Improve Your English
1) Vocabulary
One of the best ways to increase your vocabulary is by reading new material. When you come across unfamiliar words, try to use clues in the paragraph to guess what the word might mean before looking it up in the dictionary to see if your guess was close!
2) Grammar
When you read, you’re more likely to notice the sentence patterns and grammar rules. Just remember to select good reading materials as not all English content uses proper grammar, especially those on social media. Keep reading on for a list of English stories to improve your English.
3) Writing skills
Reading will give you more ideas on how to structure and write your English essays. It will also help you think more creatively. When reading, ask yourself what makes the essay or story interesting and keep that in mind the next time you’re writing.
4) Spelling and Pronunciation
Another benefit of reading is that you will be able to see how words are spelt correctly. Sometimes, English words may sound quite different from how they’re spelt. Reading out loud will also help improve your pronunciation so when you find yourself alone in a room, pick up a book and start reading out loud!
5 Websites With English Short Stories To Improve Your English
Not sure what to start reading? Here’s a list of websites with English short stories that are meant to help you improve your English:
1. BBC’s Learning English, Stories for Children (Beginner Level)
This website contains resources developed by the BBC. There is a whole series of short stories that are accompanied by illustrated videos. You can read the story as a transcript or download a PDF of the story. Some of the stories also come with practice activities so you’ll be able to engage further with the English stories to improve your English comprehension skills!
2. Storynory’s Bank of Stories (Beginner to Intermediate Level)
On Storynory, you will find a range of stories which include classics and fairytales such as Hansel and Gretel and Alice in Wonderland (broken down into short chapters). What’s great about Storynory is that they sometimes add their own twist to well-known stories such as ‘The Boy Who Cried Wolf’. Many of the stories here come with audio narration which can help you with pronunciations if you’re reading out loud.
3. British Council’s Story Zone (Intermediate to Advanced Level)
The short stories on this website are written based on the CEFR standards. The A2 to B1 stories are for intermediate readers while the B2 to C1 stories are for upper-intermediate to advanced readers. You will notice that the same story or topic is used but written in a way that is suited for the two different levels. There are also tasks and exercises given to test your comprehension of the English stories to improve your English.
4. Linguapress’s Reading Resources (Intermediate to Advanced Level)
At first glance, Linguapress’s website can be quite overwhelming. However, simply click on the ‘intermediate reading’ or ‘advanced reading’ tab to access reading materials that are suited to your level. They have short stories on various topics, both fiction and non-fiction that are categorised into different themes. Most of their short stories also include a glossary at the bottom.
5. English Club’s Short Stories (Upper-Intermediate to Advanced Level)
This compilation includes short stories that are written by famous authors such as Virginia Woolf and Edgar Allan Poe. Advanced English language learners will find the literary style of these stories creative and enjoyable. The short stories here also use more complex language but don’t be put off by it as there is a ‘Wordchecker’ list at the bottom of each story with the meanings of words that may be new to English learners.
5 English Storybooks To Help You Improve Your English
Book-length stories with interesting plots and characters to fall in love with can get you hooked on reading English stories to continuously improve your English. Therefore, we’ve compiled a list of timeless stories that every young English learner can enjoy.
1. Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak
This famous picture book is beloved by many children around the world. The story revolves around a young boy named Max who finds himself in a place ‘where the wild things are’. While it is most suited for young and beginner English learners, this beautifully illustrated book is something that everyone can appreciate!
2. Famous Five by Enid Blyton
Enid Blyton is a celebrated storyteller who has written a huge collection of books including the Famous Five series. This series features the adventures of siblings Julian, Dick, and Anne alongside their cousin Georgina (George) and her dog Timmy. The first book, Five on a Treasure Island was first published in 1942 and continues to be read till today! Enid Blyton has also authored many other English stories that are perfect to improve English.
3. A Series of Unfortunate Events by Lemony Snicket
Lemony Snicket is the pen name of Daniel Handler, the author of this series. The story follows the lives of the Baudelaire children who have to go live with their villainous relative, Count Olaf. This book series is famous for its use of dark humour and explores themes such as good versus evil. There’s a Netflix TV series based on these books too!
4. Hardy Boys and Nancy Drew series
Both of these series feature young amateur sleuths or detectives who go on exciting adventures to find clues and solve mysteries. These books for children and teens are written by various writers using the same pseudonym which is a made-up name. Despite the relatively short and punchy sentences, these English stories are great to improve your English vocabulary.
5. Harry Potter by J.K. Rowling
As one of the most beloved book series in the world, Harry Potter needs no introduction. The magical world of Hogwarts has continued to capture the imagination of children and adults alike. Getting to learn a few magic spells while improving your English seems like a good bargain! Once you’ve read the books, you can also compare them with the movies.