If you are learning English and are trying to improve your language skills while continuing to focus on your personal development, I highly recommend Stephen Covey’s book, “The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People”. This book, first published way back in the 80’s, has helped millions of people become more effective leaders, communicators and transformed their lives. However, in this review I want to focus on the aspects of the book that may present specific challenges or opportunities for English language learners.
Language Level:
"The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People" is generally suitable for upper-intermediate to advanced English learners. If you are at a lower level, you will unfortunately have trouble comprehending the original English book. For upper-intermediate students, the book provides a great challenge and can form part of your study program over several months. For advanced learners, this book will enrich your vocabulary and be a very enjoyable, thought-provoking read.
Easy-to-Understand Aspects:
Clear grammar structures - Stephen Covey’s writing style is fairly straightforward and you will not encounter too many complex grammatical structures.
Repetition - Covey often reinforces key ideas throughout the book with several examples, allowing you to better understand the main concepts of each chapter
Sub-divided chapters - Each chapter in the book is divided into smaller subsections. This makes reading the book much easier because each section usually has one clear idea. Additionally, these subsections allow you to take breaks from reading without harming your overall understanding of the concepts.
Challenging Aspects:
Unusual vocabulary & expressions - Covey often uses some very interesting (but uncommon) expressions and idioms while telling stories and giving examples. This can make it difficult for English learners to understand, however it also presents an opportunity to develop your vocabulary.
Idiomatic Expressions - The text contains certain idioms and figurative language, which can pose challenges for learners unfamiliar with such expressions.
Abstract ideas & metaphorical language - The ideas in “7 Habits” are sometimes presented in an abstract way using metaphors and figurative language. This can require you to ‘read between the lines’ in order to fully grasp the concepts in each chapter. However, this presents a great opportunity, especially for advanced learners, to develop their English reading skills and think in English.
Language Learning Opportunities:
Vocabulary Development - Due to the writing style, new words and phrases are often repeated time and time again. Allowing you to build your vocabulary steadily as you go through the book.
Critical Thinking - The content encourages you to analyse your own life and behaviour, it pushes you to think about your answers to several questions, further helping your brain to think in English.
Reading Comprehension - Covey’s writing style switches between first person narratives, scripted dialogues and reported speech in order to get his point across. This is a huge benefit for English learners because it allows you plenty of opportunity to develop your reading comprehension skills across several different styles of writing.
Conclusion:
"The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People" offers English learners the possibility of improving their English and enhancing their reading skills while also fostering personal development and putting you on a path to become a more effective person overall!
Tips for English Learners:
My advice, as an English teacher with over 10 years experience, is as follows:
Take It Slow - Read the book at a comfortable pace, pausing to reflect on and grasp complex ideas.
Make Vocabulary Lists - Keep track of new words and idioms encountered throughout the book to practice and review later.
Join a Book Club or Discussion Group - Engaging with fellow learners can enhance understanding and provide valuable insights.
If any of you have completed this book, I would love to hear your opinions in the comments! For more book reviews check out my blog here.
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