<p>My weak English skills make it hard to read and grasp contents of textbooks and research papers quickly and efficiently.
My current English skills are also not strong enough to do well on MCAT's verbal section.
Btw, English isn't my native language.
In high school English classes, I've never received a grade higher than a B.
I want to be like those who read textbooks and research papers in a flash and still understand them very well.
I'm going to be a sophomore in Fall; I have at least a year left until taking the MCAT.
What is the best way of becoming a master at verbal?
Just read, read, and read?
Will reading things like the Economist and the NYT really allow you to become a great English user?
Of course, becoming a great English user doesn't happen overnight, but, generally, how much should you read to see an effect?</p>
<p>It's very hard to master a new language at a high level -- like the MCAT Verbal would demand. The vast majority of people in this world, even native English speakers, will not read research papers in a flash.</p>
<p>I read very well, but I never touch either the Economist (which I love) or the NYT (which I can't stand). Frankly, most of my skills were developed prior to age 3 and during my first two years of high school.</p>
<p>You're right that the best option available to you -- but frankly I think your expectations are a little too high -- is simply to read everything you can get your hands on.</p>
<p>That is the best option -- since you're talking about the MCAT Verbal, not conversational English -- but I really think your expectations ("great") are too high.</p>
<p>How much you'd need to read would vary considerably. I think you could see strong improvement with a year, but frankly languages are complicated phenomena and I don't think you'd become able to read textbooks and papers "quickly and efficiently" after just one year.</p>
<p>Three hours a day is always going to be better than two and worse than four. Your personal curve, of course, is going to depend very strongly on how smart you are and what kind of reading you do (active vs. passive), most of which are inborn traits which you're just going to have to accept.</p>
<p>In your position, I would make a 9 my goal on the Verbal and really hope to demolish the other sections.</p>
<p>bluedevilmike: Thanks for such a serious reply.</p>
<p>English is my second language too and when I first came here I did not know ANY except "Hi my name is ----". Anyway I can speak it very well now or at least thats what people tell me. Writing is another problem. Because I never took a course in grammar. I just like you said read, read, read. But I read science books because they would help you with school, and like you said research papers. I also made vocabulary flash cards and learned 3-4 words every day.
Good Luck</p>