This Language School Loves Books!
Books have always been part of the magic of learning — but in today’s world of apps, podcasts, and online videos, you might wonder if they still deserve a place in your English learning journey.
For us at Blue Noun, the answer is a wholehearted yes. Even though our English holidays are rooted in conversation and exploring Scotland’s culture and landscapes, books remain one of our favourite tools for sparking ideas, deepening vocabulary, and inspiring meaningful conversations.
In this post, you’ll find our best tips for using books to boost your English — plus a conversation exercise at the end to put your new ideas into practice.
About Your Language School Library
While we do have a small selection of excellent language coaching books designed to drill grammar points and other structures, we use them sparingly.
They are very useful if we have any beginners in our community classes.
I’ll pass on an exercise or two for revision and homework rather than spending too much group class time on it.
A good language teacher knows how drill grammar points through conversation practice.
A really good one does it without you even noticing.
The majority of books in our language school library tend to be fun and lovely reads, not ELT course books.
Take a Look at our Books
Why Celebrate World Book Day
“Let’s be part of this international festival of reading and books and remind ourselves of how lucky we are to have access to books (and a universal education system that has taught us to read).”
Ruth, 2021
Your English Language Coaches are ‘Bookworms’!
Speaking personally for an instant, as youngsters, we mini-Pringles used to beg our dad to read us a story (mum got the job most weekdays). When he raced through ‘The Tiger Who Came To Tea‘ or some such age-appropriate gem, we would howl in disappointment. Then he would pull whatever paperback he was in the middle of from his pocket, and start reading from whatever page he was on.
It was probably mere minutes before we all fell asleep, lulled by the comfort of language we only partially understood.
Are You a Book Collector or Giver?
“So as our young team member celebrates World Book Day in her own way (by attending school dressed as a dog), I’m going to have just one more rummage in the Blue Noun bookshelves – and I urge you on this day to work out a way to share a book that you love too”.Ruth
Books are GREAT Resources for English Language Class!
About Our Language School Blog
We hope we’ve convinced you that books are still very relevant resources in English language class.
We cover a broad range of topics in our language school blogs – some a lighthearted look at Scotland, others an in-depth look at art and culture. There’s something for everyone.
If you’ve liked this blog, you might want to read our English tips blog:
5 Ways to Use BBC Radio to Learn English
Your Blue Noun English Language Challenge is:
Use the comment section below to tell us about: a book you love to share.
Write as much as you like, and if you would like us to check & correct your English, write CP (correct please) at the end.
Live language learning!
I really enjoyed reading this books really do bring a different kind of magic to learning. I like how you use them for sparking conversations instead of just drills it makes learning feel alive. Also loved the story about your dad reading whatever he had on hand, that felt so real and relatable.
Thank you, what a lovely comment. I’m glad you enjoyed this blog and it made you smile.