The Best Easy-Read Books for ESOL Learners

Novels are a great way of learning a new language, while also opening students up to a world of literary, culture and debate. Get ready for some interesting discussions…

As an 'English for Speakers of Other Languages' (ESOL) teacher, it’s important to find different ways to engage with your class. The University of Bolton’s PGCE M 14+ English (Literacy and ESOL) course arms you with the skills to bring language to life, and there are many methods you can use.

One of these is through fictional reading, providing both learning and entertainment for students who are learning English for the first time. Through books, you can introduce them to art, history and British culture, as well as conversational language and grammatical practice.

Finding easy books to read is key however, as in order to engage, you have to make learning as accessible and beginner-friendly as possible.

Here are some of the best easy-read books for ESOL learners:

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time (Mark Haddon)

Finding good books that match a student’s age and reading level isn’t always easy. But this book is a winner with both adults and children, and is a best-seller in both categories. Telling the story of a young boy with Asperger’s, it has a big human focus, helping the reader connect with the character.

The reason this novel is fantastic for second language English learners is because of the way it is written. Told from the point of view of an Asperger's sufferer, everything is clear, logical and very straightforward to read.