The English language is one of the most difficult languages to learn. Words are often spelled differently from the way they sound, and the language is full of idioms—phrases that cannot be understood from the individual meanings of the words. If for example, you instructor tells you to “hit the books,” she does not mean for you to physically pound your texts with your fist but rather to study hard.

If you are learning English and are having trouble reading your texts, don’t give up. Reading slowly and reading more than once can help you improve your comprehension. Make sure that you have two good dictionaries—one in English and one that links English with your primary language—and look up every key word you don’t know. Be sure to practice thinking, writing, and speaking in English, and take advantage of your college’s services. Your campus might have English as a second language (ESL) tutoring and workshops. Ask your adviser or your first-year seminar instructor to help you find where those services are offered on your campus.