Are you a fan of science fiction and fantasy books? These genres are not only very entertaining but can also help you improve your English skills. You can enhance your language proficiency by reading books with captivating storytelling, unique vocabulary and imaginative concepts.
Following on from 9 great novels to help improve your English, we've gathered a list of great sci-fi and fantasy books that will transport you to amazing worlds and improve your language skills.
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This is an excellent option if you're searching for a classic sci-fi novel. This exciting book can help improve your vocabulary, reading comprehension, writing skills, critical thinking, and understanding of cultural and historical contexts. The exciting story of Martian invaders will captivate you, showcasing creative storytelling and making you appreciate the English language.
A captivating novel for young adults that combines science fiction and fantasy, featuring time travel and otherworldly adventures. L'Engle's writing style is straightforward, making it an ideal choice for those learning English. Explore its fascinating themes and vivid imagery to improve your language skills.
If you want a gripping sci-fi book about war, leadership and morals, try reading 'Ender's Game'. This book has it all, from thrilling action sequences to intriguing characters, and provides ample food for thought. Additionally, immersing yourself in this book can enhance your English language skills, expand your vocabulary and hone your critical thinking abilities.
This well-known magical world needs no introduction. The Harry Potter series follows a young wizard on his adventure through a fantastical realm of spells, friendship and excitement. The language is simple, the story is engaging and the characters are lively. This makes it perfect for English learners wanting to improve and pick up an easy-to-read novel.
An excellent choice for English learners seeking an insightful and challenging read. This science fiction novel can enhance your English vocabulary, reading comprehension, critical thinking and analysis skills.ÌýThe text explores various writing styles and techniques, while also exploring cultural and social themes that can challenge your perception of reality and the world. ‘Ubik’ offers a thought-provoking and mind-bending experience for those willing to explore its depths.
For an entertaining and light-hearted read, check out Douglas Adams' ‘The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy’. It's a science fiction series that uses humor, satire and adventure to tell its story. Adams' clever writing, wordplay and humor make it a fun way to explore the English language with a lighter touch.
For those seeking a challenge this is a classic example of the fantasy genre. This book takes readers on an exciting journey through Middle-earth, complete with intricate world-building, vivid descriptions and unique characters. Read it to improve your vocabulary and comprehension skills while immersing yourself in a timeless story of good versus evil.
Want something set on earth and with historical references? '11/22/63' is a sci-fi book that mixes time travel and history, making it a great read for English learners who are interested in modern history. This book introduces readers to a range of new vocabulary, helps improve reading comprehension and exposes the reader to the book's setting of 60's America.
If you’re looking for an immersive reading experience, check out Christopher Paolini's 'The Inheritance Cycle' series of books. This young adult fantasy series helps readers learn new words, understand stories better, follow character growth and enjoy detailed world creation. As you follow Eragon's story, you'll learn about writing techniques and the magic of storytelling in epic proportions.
Sci-fi and fantasy books take you to new worlds and enhance language skills with complex ideas and varied vocabulary. It can also help with understanding English pop culture references too. Try these books and let your English ability soar to new and unexplored heights.
Have you considered studying abroad? Moving to Canada to study? With more than 100 world-class universities across the country, there’s good reason to. From coast to coast to coast, it offers many international students a safe and supportive learning environment and the opportunity to work after graduation.
Want to learn more? In this guide, we cover ten things you should know about studying in Canada:
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Language skills have become increasingly important in the workplace as the world becomes more globalized and connected. Having the ability to communicate effectively in more than one language is very valuable, and with English being a leading lingua franca for businesses across the world, language skills sit at the heart of business success.
Here we highlight four top reasons why language skills are so valuable in the workplace.
Effective communication is the number one soft skill that employers look for, . Having strong language skills enables better communication with clients and colleagues, and also helps to work effectively with people from different cultures. It builds solid relationships and reduces frustration where customers or colleagues may otherwise feel that they are not understood or listened to.
Having different languages on your CV can really help to stand out among other candidates. For some industries it is essential, such as tourism, where it is necessary to serve clients from different countries, and this is also true where companies serve clients in international markets.
Where businesses are increasingly moving to hybrid working practices that can include teams spread across different countries and timezones, it is also becoming more of an expectation and advantage to be able to connect through a central language, such as English.
Furthermore, having English language skills can provide employees with better networking opportunities, in particular through conferences, trade shows and social media platforms such as LinkedIn.
Learning a new language can be a very enriching experience that enhances personal growth and skills development. Language learning doesn't just impact communication skills; it's also been noted that learning a language helps the brain process and remember information more efficiently[1], as well as developing new cognitive and problem-solving skills.
Learning a new language requires discipline, dedication, and patience, which are qualities that can be applied to other areas of work and life.
To summarise, language skills are highly valuable in the workplace and can open up new career opportunities for employees, as well as adding tangible benefits to businesses. Investing in language skills can increase an employee's value, and this can help them succeed in today's ever-evolving work landscape.
Students who are actively involved in deciding what and how they learn are typically more engaged and motivated.
That’s not surprising, because independent learners are extremely focused on their personal learning objectives.
, independent learning is “a process, a method and a philosophy of education whereby a learner acquires knowledge by his or her own efforts and develops the ability for inquiry and critical evaluation."
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