English with the News
The most neglected of the Fab Four
No, Beatlemaniac 😎 —we're talking about “skills” here: listening, speaking, writing, and, yes, reading.
While much emphasis is placed on listening (“I need to understand more”) and speaking (“I need to keep the conversation going”), the importance of constantly expanding one's vocabulary is often overlooked.
In fact, having a rich vocabulary is the key to mastering both—speaking and listening. The reason is pretty straightforward: you can only recognize and use words you've encountered before (otherwise, those words are just random "sounds").
But how do you grow your vocabulary if you're not living in an English-speaking country? Well... by reading.
You might ask: what about watching movies and TV series in English, or listening to music and podcasts? Of course, every bit helps. But there's an underrated trick up your sleeve—news. Here's why it can be a game-changer:
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non-boring content: unlike most textbooks, news articles cover real stuff happening now—that keeps your brain buzzing and levels up your English game
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conversation boost: staying ahead with world news offers valuable conversational material and fosters cultural understanding—plus, it can be a handy tip for interviews!
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real talk: news provides a glimpse into authentic native speech and writing—including all the latest terms, phrases, and idioms, often missing in traditional learning materials.
So, while movies & tunes have their perks, integrating news into your language routine is like stumbling upon a hidden gem: it enhances your language skills, keeps you in the know, and turns you into the socialite everyone wants at their party!
Of course, diving into the news isn't exactly... a cakewalk. Even watching video reports can get tricky when people speak rapidly and with a strong accent. But trust me, the effort is worth it!
Intrigued? Well, fasten your seat belts because I'm about to reveal how many new words you can absorb just by delving into headlines!
Check out the carousels below, filled with captivating words straight from international news. And enjoy the (linguistic) journey.
For an extra dose of headlines, you can always follow me on LinkedIn and hit the double bell icon on my profile to never miss a thing (mmm... did I mention this before?! 😁)