Sant Jordi special article

There is no one who does not enjoy reading.” This statement may seem an exaggeration, but let’s reflect a little. It is true that there is reading for everyone, from passionate novels to non-fiction books that teach us about the world around us, and we can’t forget the comics! Reading is a door to the imagination, a window to knowledge and an opportunity to connect with other people, cultures and worlds.

Reading from a very young age is really positive for countless reasons. Firstly, reading stimulates brain development, improves vocabulary and enhances cognitive skills. In addition, reading stories and tales in childhood fosters creativity and empathy, helping children to better understand the world around them and the emotions of others.

But the benefits of reading are apparent at all ages. For adults, reading is a form of relaxation or escape, a way to learn about new worlds and to better understand one’s own feelings and thoughts. Studies have also shown that people who read regularly have better mental health and emotional well-being.

And if we talk about reading in another language the benefits are multiple, especially for students because:

• Improved vocabulary: Reading in English, for example, exposes students to a wide range of words and phrases that they might not find in their usual study material. This constant exposure to new vocabulary helps to broaden and enrich their linguistic repertoire.

• Improved reading comprehension: Reading in English allows students to practise their reading comprehension in a real context. They have to understand the meaning of words and phrases in context, which leads to an improvement in their ability to understand written texts in English.

• Learning grammar: Through reading, students can be exposed to grammar in action. They can observe how sentences are constructed and how different verb tenses and grammatical structures are used in real situations.

• Familiarity with culture: Reading English authors also offers students a window into English-speaking culture. They can learn about the traditions, customs and values of English-speaking communities while enjoying reading.

• Preparation for real-life situations: In real life, English language learners will have to read documents, emails, magazine articles and other materials in English. Reading in English provides them with the exposure and practice needed to deal with these situations with confidence.

In short, reading in English is not only an effective way to broaden one’s knowledge of the language, but also a fun and enriching way to connect with English-speaking culture and literature. For this reason, we encourage cursos a reading in English during our courses as it helps our students to improve their language skills significantly.

The literary world is full of fascinating curiosities. Did you know that the most widely read genre in the world is the romance novel? Or do you know the list of the most read books in English in recent times? We have many of them in our small library at the English Language Institute, do they ring a bell?:

1. “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows” by J.K. Rowling.

2. “The Hunger Games” by Suzanne Collins.

3. “The Girl donde the Train” by Paula Hawkins.

4. “Becoming” by Michelle Obama.

5. “The Fault in Our Stars” by John Green.

This selection of books represents only a small sample of the most relevant bestsellers in English over the last 10 years, but as we said at the beginning of the blog, you have to find your genre, your book!

Finally, I would like to add that this article is born on the occasion of the celebration in Catalonia of Saint George’s Day. As you know, this festival, which is celebrated on 23 april, is a day dedicated to love, culture and, above all, books. The streets become a sea of roses and books, where people go out for a stroll and give roses to their loved ones and books to those they want to surprise with a good read…

So, if you get a book for St. George’s Day and you have it in your hands, remember all the benefits we have mentioned in this blog and let yourself be carried away by the magic of words.

Que tingueu una bona diada de Sant Jordi!