Ready to start reading in English? Here are top ten places to find books and articles in English.
Not sure where to find the best reading material for you? Explore the ideas below. I’ve made a note next to each resource on whether it is free, cheap or a little pricier, and what kind of material you may find there.
If you’re looking for books to read:
1. Your local library [FREE!]
Most libraries these days have a small selection of books in English. You may be able to find some classics, such as Jane Austen (for advanced students only!) or the Harry Potter series (perfect for beginners to reading, especially if you know the story well).
You should also be able to find graded readers – books whose text has been adapted to make it easier to understand as a learner. Unfortunately, many of the books lose some of their charm through the adaptation, but they can still be a great way for you to dive into classic literature if you’re an intermediate reader. Many also offer glossaries (mini-dictionaries) and tasks to go with the reading. Look through the book you find to decide if it’s worth a try. I especially like Edgadr’s readers; some of my students and I were recently reading a chapter from their Anne of Green Gables reader, and everyone really enjoyed it.
2. A language library [FREE!]
You might have trouble accessing this if you live in a smaller town, but do look up multilingual libraries if you live in a bigger city. In Warsaw, where I live, I am familiar with two very good ones: one in Gocław and one in Wola. They both have a vast selection of books in English: fiction, non-fiction, new releases, graded readers, children’s books, and whatever else you can think of!
This is the most recent book I’ve picked up at the Poliglotka library in Wola. I’m really enjoying it so far!
3. A standard bookshop or language bookshop [A LITTLE PRICIER]
When I started reading in English, it was a struggle to find new titles in Poland. But nowadays, standard book outlets such as Empik or Bonito have a decent collection of books in English (especially online), featuring both classics and current bestsellers. A language bookshop such as Bookland will offer a broader range, including many graded readers. English books will usually be more expensive than those in Polish, but nowadays, the price difference is rarely very large.
4. A second-hand bookshop [CHEAP]
This one favours the big city folk again. Do a Google search to find second-hand bookshops and go see whether they have an English section (they often do, these days). And if you’re Warsaw-based, definitely check out thebooks.pl – they have a massive collection of used books in English, as well as new copies at good prices. The last time I was there, I managed to pick up three books and paid a total of 20 zloties – not sure you can do as well, but you’ll definitely spend less than at a major bookseller’s.
5. Online outlets [A LITTLE PRICIER]
If you’re keen on a particular title that isn’t available elsewhere, have a look around the web. In Poland, you can often find bigger titles sold through Allegro. Otherwise, importing from the UK through Amazon will do the trick.
6. Public-access books [FREE!]
A lot of classic literature has entered the public domain, which means it’s freely available online, no copyright laws infringed upon. Sites such as Project Gutenberg house massive collections of these, so if you have an e-reader or don’t mind reading on your computer or phone, this can be a goldmine. However, do be careful: classic literature is usually more challenging to read than new releases because of the sometime old-fashioned language. If you’ve never read a book in English before, this is NOT the place to start.
7. University libraries [FREE / CHEAP]
If there’s a university near where you live, this is a great place to look, especially if they offer courses in English. In Warsaw, BUW has lots of books in English, and the smaller libraries at Wydział Lingwistyki also have nice selections. If you’re a student or university staff, take advantage! And if not, you may look into getting a library card as a member of the public. In Warsaw, this is very easy to do and costs only 20 zloties. Unfortunately, you may not be able to borrow books to take home, but you can still go in for a reading session at one of the many reading rooms.
If you’re more interested in shorter texts or articles:
8. Online news outlets [FREE]
For recent news, consult the BBC. If you’re interested in scientific / academic English, check out The Conversation, where features are often written by scientists and researchers. If you’re looking to cheer yourself up, check out Positive News, which celebrates scientific advances and all things good.
9. Interest-specific websites [FREE]
There’s nothing like reading up on what you’re interested in to motivate yourself. Dedicate some time to looking around the web for English-language resources on your topics of interest. A bit of time, and you’re sure to find a wealth of information on your hobby, profession or recent TV series obsession. This is a fantastic way to build up a vocabulary resource for work or school, too.
10. Newsweek Learning English, and other magazines for learners [A LITTLE PRICIER]
These are often available at major bookstores or at the newsagent’s. You can usually order them online, too, or find a selection at a language bookshop such as Bookland. I quite like Newsweek Learning English, which I sometimes use in class: the topics of the articles range from health and lifestyle to current politics, there are colourful illustrations and mini glossaries, and each issue has texts on levels from B1 to C1. Pick up one to try it, and if you find you’re enjoying this method of learning, a subscription may well make sense.
Which of the suggestions above have you tried? Have I missed any good places to find reading in English? Get in touch if you’d like to let me know – I would love to update my list.
And if you’d like to find out more about why reading in English is so important, check out the previous posts in this series!