We’ve all been there: you open an interesting article or a book in English, and by the third sentence, you’re already reaching for your translator. It feels like work, not progress.
The secret to becoming a fluent reader isn’t knowing every word—it’s having the strategies to understand the message even when some words are missing. This week, at The London Eye – English Consultant, we learn the art of Contextual Reading.
1. Two Ways to Read: Intensive vs. Extensive
To grow your English, you need a balance of these two styles. Most students only do the first one, which is why they get tired!
| Style | What it is | Goal |
| Intensive Reading | Reading a short, difficult text and looking up every new word. | Accuracy, grammar, and deep vocabulary. |
| Extensive Reading | Reading long, easy texts (like «Graded Readers» or news) for pleasure. | Fluency, speed, and seeing words in context. |
🔥 Pro-Tip: Follow the «Five Finger Rule.» Open a book to a random page. If there are more than five words you don’t know, it’s too hard for Extensive reading. Save it for Intensive study!
2. Strategy: Being a «Vocabulary Detective»
When you hit a word you don’t know, don’t stop. Look for these «Clues» in the surrounding sentence:
- Definition Clues: Sometimes the writer defines the word for you.
- Example: «The company decided to downsize, which means they reduced the number of employees.»
- Synonym Clues: Look for the word «or» or commas.
- Example: «The manager was agitated, or very upset, about the delay.»
- Contrast Clues: Look for words like but, however, whereas.
- Example: «While the first plan was flawed, the second one was perfect.» (Even if you don’t know flawed, you know it must mean the opposite of perfect!)
3. Language Focus: Word Parts (Prefixes & Suffixes)
You can often «guess» the meaning of a word by breaking it into pieces. In 2026, with the speed of information, this is an essential skill!
| Prefix/Suffix | Meaning | Example |
| Un- / In- / Dis- | Not / Opposite | Unhappy, Incorrect, Disagree |
| Re- | Again | Redo, Restructure, Revisit |
| -able / -ible | Can be done | Predictable, Flexible |
| -less | Without | Helpless, Careless, Useless |
4. When to FINALLY Use the Dictionary
If a word appears three or more times and you still don’t understand the main idea of the paragraph, now you can look it up. Adding it to your Anki or Quizlet deck (from last week!) ensures you won’t have to look it up again.
Your Action Step for this week: Find a short English news article today (try BBC News or The Guardian). Read one paragraph and try to guess the meaning of one unknown word using context clues before looking it up.
Did you guess it correctly? Tell us the word and your guess in the comments!
The London Eye - English Consultant 