The Power of Reading: The Essential Link Between the Page and Eloquence
By Evelyn Chen

“Read a thousand books and your words will flow like a river,”- Lisa See

I have, over the years, talked about the importance of reading to everyone and anyone who would listen. I understand reading is a difficult habit to cultivate, either you love it or you don’t. Modern distractions don’t make it easy for one to be a bibliophile. So the struggle is real.

Reading, as my wise father always reminds me, does more good than harm. When I was a child, I would rather read than go hang out with my friends, because who wouldn’t want to stay home and read The Teenage Textbook and The Teenage Workbook (those were the most happening books when I was growing up)? Hence, I was always home and safe and improving my lexicon!

We grew up in a school where we mostly spoke English, as most of my native friends didn’t (still don’t) speak the Hokkien dialect and we didn’t speak theirs. It was natural for us to pick up new words daily. We were young and sophistication was not what we were after! We only wanted to get a distinction in English so we could study abroad and satisfy our curiosity.

Fast forward to years later, we became adults and there is now a need to be taken seriously. Being a flibbertigibbet will not get us that. So what do we do? WE READ! And continue reading. We research, verify facts and we are very sure before we speak! We are not aiming to be omniscient; just knowledgeable enough to be a good conversationalist, an excellent decision-maker and a great analyst.

What I didn’t realise then was how right Lisa See is: the more you read, the more eloquent you become (apart from staying out of trouble!). But you need to be indefatigable. It’s not a one-off effort; it takes years, discipline, practice and a fervent love for reading. Oh, and hanging around with older and well-read people helps too! I especially like to listen to my senior citizen friends as they have the most exciting stories, EVER!

Here’s the truth: you don’t need to read a thousand books overnight. You just need to start with one.

I started my serious reading journey with Robert Kuok’s memoir. I told myself I would read one chapter a day; come what may. Some days I wanted to read more; other days, one chapter felt like climbing a mountain. But I stuck with it and that consistency transformed everything.

Choose books that genuinely interest you. Don’t force yourself to read dry texts if they bore you. Start with memoirs, biographies or topics you are curious about. Once the habit is formed, you can expand.

I also supplement my reading with podcasts, TED Talks and conversations with well-read people, especially senior citizens. Their life experiences combined with decades of reading create wisdom you can’t find in any single book.

Since committing to daily reading, I have noticed profound changes. My vocabulary has expanded naturally. I articulate thoughts more clearly. I make better decisions because I have broader perspectives. Most importantly, I feel more confident because I am no longer speaking from ignorance or guesswork.

Lisa See’s river metaphor is perfect: reading fills your internal reservoir and when it is full, your words flow naturally and with authority.

Here’s your challenge: Pick one book. Read one chapter a day for the next month. Surround yourself with people who read and think deeply. Listen more than you speak.

Reading won’t make you perfect but it will make you better. More articulate. More thoughtful. More confident.

So turn off the distractions, pick up a book and start building your river.

Your eloquent future self will thank you.

 

Words to learn

cultivate– develop; nurture

bibliophile– person who loves books; book lover

lexicon– words/ phrases used by a person

sophistication– being refined, cultured or elegance

flibbertigibbet– silly person who talks too much

omniscient- a person who knows everything

eloquent– fluent or persuasive in speaking or writing

indefatigable– consistently hardworking

fervent– having intense passion for something

articulate– able to express/ explain something in words

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The road towards eloquence doesn’t have to be slow or uncertain as ILTI is here to help you navigate the winding road and speedbumps along the way. Join us to start your English language learning journey now by calling / WhatsApp 010-395 3067 or email: info@ilti.edu.my.