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Reading has always been an instrumental way of learning language, for both children learning their mother tongue, or adults learning their second--or even third!--language. There are many advantages to studying through written text. The aspects affected by this include but are not limited to vocabulary, spelling, grammar, and phonology. In my summative essay, I will be speaking about these particular elements of reading and their benefits. In almost every book I read, I find there is at least one word I do not recognize, prompting me to learn it's meaning. Books or articles both offer chances to build vocabulary, as they always have the possibility of presenting an unknown word to the reader. Because of this, such materials are often used in classrooms centered around language arts. The best use of this can be through using text suited for their level of comprehension, then gradually providing more challenging reading to test their abilities further. Curiosity can sometimes be the best motivator to encourage learning. In the courses, we studied different techniques to help encourage vocabulary building. An example of such is to go over what could be a difficult word before a text is given. With the right amount of guidance and adjusting work based on the needs of the students, it is possible to help them grasp a better understanding of words. Not only does reading give students a chance to learn new words, but it is perfect for exemplifying a language's sentence structure. What better way for them to learn how to put together legible sentences--or in the case of verbal communication: speak fluently--than to have them study the proper placement of words and phrases? Using authentic materials is especially excellent for this, as it gives them an example written by a native speaker. By identifying parts of grammar in text, they can later be tested on their knowledge through gap-fill exercises. This technique of learning also allows them to see the proper spelling of words. Too often, just hearing them can lead students to go off their basic knowledge of what sounds letters make. As even native English speakers can tell you, some words are difficult to spell since the way they sound differs from the way they are spelled. When reading out loud, with a bit of guided assistance, it can provide the opportunity to hear the correct phonology as well. While the aforementioned is another topic covered in EFL/ESL classes on its own, the two complement each other well and go hand in hand. Work assigned to learners by the teacher, to work on alone or as a class, provide the proper practice needed to do so. Thus, this provides the visual aid that some may need to retain information. In conclusion, reading is beneficial to learning in so many ways. Reading gives students the chance to build their vocabulary, study grammar, spelling, and proper phonology of the English language. It puts their already existing knowledge to the test, pushing their curiosity and therefore motivating them to do the research and learn, so that they may speak the language they wish to speak fluently. Reading influences language acquisition in the fact that it motivates, applies to various learning styles, and helps to retain the information received so that the learner can achieve their language goals.
