DANIEL SMITH + PARTNERS
  • Inicio
  • Coaching 1 to 1
  • Empresas
  • PODCAST
  • blog
  • Contacto


​Daniel Smith
Transforma tu inglés profesional con COACHING online

Inscríbete para recibir mis emails semanales de coaching GRATIS:
    You can unsubscribe at any time

    6 consejos para escoger un libro en inglés

    23/4/2020

    16 Comments

     
    Hi everyone.

    Today I'm going to talk a little bit about how to choose a book in English. I get this type of question very often and it's actually a very interesting question because it's not that easy to choose a book when you are choosing a book in English.

    So, I have six tips for you today to help you make that choice.

    1. E
    lige un libro que te guste
    So, the first tip is that really you should choose a book that you like, a book that you have some interest in. That is vital because if the book that you choose is not of interest to you, then your motivation will disappear very, very quickly.

    You might have the motivation at the beginning, but as soon as you start to read it, you will notice that you don't have enough motivation to continue. And that is one of the key problems and probably a problem that you have encountered in the past as well.


    You might read halfway through the book, but then you kind of get bored and you don't really like it. So, the first thing is you need to choose a book that you like. And that process is very similar to choosing a book that you would choose in Spanish.

    So, there's really no difference. So make sure you choose a book that you are interested in and that you are motivated to read.

    2. L
    ea el texto en la contraportada
    The second tip is that you should really read the back of the book.  It's very important that you read the back of the book. There are a few reasons for this, but the main one is to check vocabulary.

    So, if you are looking at the back of the book and you read through a few paragraphs, you get an idea about whether you're really interested in the subject, but also you get an idea about whether the vocabulary is going to be okay.


    It might be that the vocabulary is too easy and you understand everything. So that's not ideal. It might also be that the vocabulary is too hard and you don't understand many words. And that's also not ideal. So, you should read it and make sure that you understand most of the words. There might be a few words you don't understand and that's fine too.

    3. L
    ee las primeras páginas del libro
    The third tip is that once you've read the back of the book, you can actually, in many online stores such as Amazon for example, you can actually read the first few pages and I would do that too.

    Again, this is really to check whether the vocabulary is okay for you, but also to check whether the subject matter is interesting. It has to be a combination of both: that you're interested in the subject and also that it's the right level for you. That is vital.

    4. E
    lige un formato de libro electrónico
    Tip number four is related to the idea of the format of the book. Now, a lot of you might like physical books and that's understandable. I like physical books as well.

    But in, in this particular case, there might be an advantage of actually getting an ebook. Now, the reason to do that is because in many cases, if you don't know a word, you can actually create a system where you click on the word and it will give you the Spanish translation immediately.

    Which is fantastic. That is really amazing.

    It can help you move forward in the book. It can help you keep motivated and it's a real bonus. So, if you do go for an E-formatted book (an e-book) then there are some definite, definite advantages there.

    5. C
    omprar dos libros de bolsillo
    If you really want to have a physical book, then, in fact, what you can do is buy two versions of the same book!

    This is a tip that many teachers use, which is basically that you buy one book in English and the other book in Spanish, but it's exactly the same book and you read the book in English and then whenever you have any issues or misunderstandings or you're not quite sure what's going on, you can quickly look at the Spanish book.

    And that is quite a powerful method.

    I actually prefer the e-book method because it just works a little bit better but if you really, really like physical books then you can get two versions of the same book. That is a really great way of understanding something very quickly, if you're kind of a bit lost.

    6. N
    o uses un diccionario
    The sixth tip is, obviously, not to use a dictionary! That is vitally important. The reason why you don't want to use a dictionary is because if you use a dictionary, then you will be stopping and starting all the time!
    ​

    You'll be looking up lots of words. You won't get into a momentum! 

    And, what you really need to do here is just continue. Even if you're not quite sure about a particular word, then that's okay. Just try to guess from the context. If the word comes up again and again, then obviously you'll have to find out what that word means either by looking in a dictionary if necessary.

    ​But if you've got an ebook then you can use that. Use the system in the ebook to find out what that word means in Spanish. So, there are quick ways to find out the meaning of words. But as I say, I would absolutely avoid looking at the dictionary because it's just something that will slow you down and will reduce your motivation to move forward. So, just try to push forward, and as long as you understand the meaning, then you're okay.

    So those are my six tips. I hope they help. And obviously if you have any questions, just let me know. Alright. Thanks a lot. See you then. Bye.



    16 Comments
    Susana
    24/4/2020 18:27:55

    Very useful, as usual. In my case, I always stop my reading and look the understanding words (many) in the dictionary. It is very hard and boring and it makes you miss the interest.

    Reply
    Daniel Smith link
    29/4/2020 14:04:28

    Hi Susana,

    Yes that is right. Looking up words can have a big impact on your progress and motivation. Try to eliminate it as much as possible.

    Great to hear from you!
    Daniel

    Reply
    Pablo Sanchez Buján
    24/4/2020 20:41:40

    I think all your advice is fine and I thank you, but I need to use the dictionary, because if I don't understand what I'm reading well, I get lost and the book ceases to interest me.
    What I do is underline the words that I do not understand and when the chapter is over, I look these words in the dictionary through Google Translate and write them down in the book.
    Thank you for your help

    Reply
    Daniel Smith link
    29/4/2020 14:06:10

    Hi Pablo,
    That is a great way of doing it! By underlining the words and then looking them up at the end it means that your FLOW is not interrupted which is great!
    Thanks for your comment Pablo!
    Daniel

    Reply
    Agustin
    24/4/2020 22:52:59

    Dear Daniel, thak you for your emails every friday. I improve my English. However, my problem hear.
    I have a lot time and my listening it is not the best.

    Reply
    Daniel Smith link
    29/4/2020 12:54:52

    Hi Agustin,
    If listening is a problem for you then you are lucky because all it requires is that you listen MORE. You need to open your ear to the language as much as possible and this is done through being very consistent!
    Great to hear from you!
    Best wishes
    Daniel

    Reply
    Jean Paul Lopez
    25/4/2020 05:34:47

    Thanks, it is a great advice!

    Reply
    Daniel Smith link
    29/4/2020 12:52:45

    My pleasure Jean Paul! I'm happy that it was useful for you!
    Speak soon!

    Reply
    JAVIER PARDO SAENZ
    25/4/2020 13:24:48

    Very grateful for this post. I was thinking about buying my first eBook and with these comments it has become clear to me that I should get one as soon as possible!
    Thanks Daniel for your regular help!

    Reply
    Daniel Smith link
    29/4/2020 12:51:16

    Great Javier. Make sure that you buy one that connects well with your ideal place where you want to buy the books. If you like Amazon you should buy a Kindle for example.
    Thanks
    Daniel

    Reply
    Oscar Ticona Condori
    27/4/2020 17:05:06

    Thank for your tips Daniel.

    Reply
    Daniel Smith link
    29/4/2020 12:44:51

    My pleasure Oscar! Great to hear from you!

    Reply
    Andrea Villalba
    28/4/2020 04:13:50

    Thanks Daniel for all your tips , they are very usefull.
    Can you please tell me where Can I find really good e books?
    I appreciate your answer.}
    Have a nice week!

    Reply
    Daniel Smith link
    29/4/2020 12:48:40

    Hi Andrea,

    If you already have an eReader then there are two sources that I use. The first is Amazon where you can buy kindle books and the second is www.ebooks.com. I have used both and they are both great. You need to think carefully about what type of eReader you have. If you have a kindle device then you can only buy from Amazon. If you have a more generic eReader then ebooks.com is better.
    Thanks
    Daniel

    Reply
    Mara Pagliery Curado
    28/4/2020 19:11:16


    Hi Daniel.

    Yes I think your book is helping me to improve my English.
    In relation with “¿ Cómo escoger un libro en Inglés? “This issue is very interesting because it is very complicated for me to choose the correct book.
    I agree with you: the first step to everybody should choose a book that I like. But sometimes It is very complicated because we have a lot of doubts.

    I thing that will be a big idea first of all to read the back of the book because it will give a clue how will be the book.

    Everybody has a different level of English and if you will read the back of the book It would help to choose better.
    I don’t know the advantage an ebook , in my next book I try to book an ebook and where you click on the word and it will give you the Spanish translation immediately. It is a great idea.!!!!!

    To use a two version is a magical idea because I don’t waste the time in looking for the word in a dictionary.
    I have a doubt in the six tip: Not to use a dictionary. Now I am reading the book of John Steinbeck’s “ Mice and Men” and for me is very difficult to understand the text without before I look for the word in a dictionary, do you recommended me other method?

    Thanks.
    Mara

    Reply
    Daniel Smith link
    29/4/2020 14:09:02

    Hi Mara!
    As usual your email was amazing! Thank you! I think you are doing everything right! Of Mice and Men is a very good choice. If there are many words you don't understand then just underline them and look for the meaning when you get to the end of the chapter. Try as much as you can to guess from context! That is a skill and you need to develop it a much as possible.
    Great to hear from you!
    Daniel

    Reply



    Leave a Reply.

      Daniel Smith

      Soy el director de Daniel Smith + Partners. Tengo más de 15 años de experiencia enseñando inglés a españoles.

      Archives

      February 2022
      January 2022
      December 2021
      November 2021
      May 2020
      April 2020
      May 2019
      April 2019
      March 2019
      February 2019
      January 2019
      June 2018
      May 2018
      April 2018
      March 2018
      February 2018
      January 2018
      December 2017
      November 2017
      October 2017
      September 2017
      August 2017
      July 2017
      June 2017
      May 2017
      April 2017
      February 2017
      January 2017
      December 2016
      November 2016
      October 2016
      April 2016
      March 2016
      February 2016

      Categories

      All

      RSS Feed

    inicio

    blog

    Contacto

    Copyright © 2021
    Privacy Policy
    • Inicio
    • Coaching 1 to 1
    • Empresas
    • PODCAST
    • blog
    • Contacto