Focus reading to learn English Language

Reading is a popular activity for all of us. We primarily read to get information and to entertain. Because the authors want to convey messages effectively, they smooth their proses to the extent that we do not recognize the obstacles or difficulties to understand the text. The text becomes a transparent glass that contains the information or stories. As a result, most of the time we read, we do not pay attention to the text itself since we only care about the content. In this article, I would like to emphasize the purpose of reading: to learn English Language. It means we must read to analyze and understand how authors use words to convey message.
 

We learn language to use it for our specific purpose, with the exception that some learn to master the language and use it as an art.  The latter purpose is for advanced level and for professionals as poets and writers. Today we discuss about learning English language to convey message.
 

There are many things to learn in a language: pronunciation, speaking, vocabulary, writing and grammar. Each topic can go deeper if one wishes to. With intentionally reading, we can learn vocabulary, grammar and writing.
 

For instance, we read to learn how to use articles, prepositions, adverbs, collocations or linkers. If we care deeply about the art of using words, we can focus on the way the authors choose words precisely to describe or express opinion, attitude and insight.
 

Or we read to learn how to write with varied sentence structures from simple to complex. We can also read to understand how paragraph is structured and linked with one another. We do similar analysis for the whole text as articles, essays, stories, reports and books.
 

We read to learn grammar as the tense of verbs that the authors use, the types of structure used to express regrets, wishes, suggestions ecetera. There are myriad of purposes, we must focus on one specific target and point it out in the text.
 

One thing we must pay attention is to distinguish general texts and specialized texts. Each type can have distinct convention in writing. One such example is in scientific communities.
 

Go ahead, read to learn English Language. Here are some steps you can do:
 

• Write down your specific target: what you want to learn now.
• Choose the texts: journal articles, newspaper, magazine or books…
• Read slowly and pay attention only to your target when you read.
• Take notes when you go.