If you could ask your students to do just one thing over the summer, one thing that could solve all their (and your) problems, it would be this:
Tell them to READ.
We could end the blog post right here, really.
But if you’re curious about why reading is so powerful, and you’d like some practical recommendations to share… keep reading!
It’s officially summer. The textbooks are closed, classrooms are empty, and students are ready for a well-deserved break. But as every ESL teacher knows, long holidays can mean one frustrating thing: summer learning loss.
After all the hard work throughout the school year, no one wants to see their students forget what they’ve learnt. So here’s a simple but powerful question:
If you could ask your students to do just one thing over the summer, what would it be?
Our answer? Read.
Why is Reading So Important Over the Summer?
Reading isn’t just a fun pastime — it’s one of the most effective tools to prevent learning loss, especially for language learners. When students read regularly, they continue to:
- Expand their vocabulary
- Reinforce grammar and sentence structure
- Build background knowledge: a crucial factor in academic success
As cognitive scientist Daniel Willingham explains, “comprehension depends on knowledge.” In other words, the more students know about the world, the better they understand what they read and vice versa. Reading gives them access to new ideas, places, topics, and language in context. This background knowledge then becomes the foundation for future learning.
Why Reading Matters Even More for ESL Students
During the summer, most ESL students don’t get regular exposure to English. They’re not hearing it in class, speaking it daily, or writing in it. That’s where reading steps in. A daily reading habit, even if it’s just for 10–15 minutes, keeps their English alive.
It also:
- Reinforces vocabulary they’ve already learned
- Introduces them to new structures naturally
- Improves their reading fluency and confidence
What Should ESL Students Read in the Summer?
Reading doesn’t have to mean long, difficult books. In fact, it shouldn’t. The best summer reading is:
- Level-appropriate: If it’s too hard, they’ll give up.
- Interesting: Let them choose books that match their hobbies or curiosity.
- Varied: Stories, non-fiction, comics — all reading counts!
Free Websites with Great Reading Material
Here are some excellent (and mostly free) options to recommend to students and families:
- Oxford Owl: Free eBooks by level, great for primary learners.
- Storyberries: Free, short stories with audio.
- English e-Readers: Graded readers by level for teens and adults
- Newsela or ReadWorks: Non-fiction articles adapted to different reading levels.
📚 Kids (Ages 6–10)
- Narwhal and Jelly (Ben Clanton) – Simple, fun, and packed with visual support. Great for early readers.
- Dog Man (Dav Pilkey) – Action-packed and full of humour. Helps with vocabulary retention through repetition and visuals.
- Stinky (Eleanor Davis, TOON Books) – Short, quirky, and designed for beginning readers.
📘 Teens (Ages 11–16)
- Wonder (R. J. Palacio) – A powerful story about empathy, identity, and acceptance.
- The Giver (Lois Lowry) – Short dystopian novel, great for discussion and critical thinking.
- Diary of a Wimpy Kid (Jeff Kinney) – Relatable, humorous, and surprisingly rich for language learners.
📖 Adults (A2–B2 level)
- Penguin Readers – Levelled Books – Choose by CEFR level. Topics range from biographies to fiction.
- The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time (Mark Haddon, adapted version available) – Engaging and language-rich.
- Short Stories in English (Olly Richards series) – Written specifically for learners, with helpful vocabulary support.
Enjoy your summer! (with a good book or two!)