Does reading enhance communication skills?

I agree with Angelwhispers. Reading definitely enhances your communication skills as well as your vocabulary. And she made a good point about reading aloud too. Jade, as you read, you think. As you think, you think in English, which seems to be a goal, and don't you agree that if you can think more in English, you'll be able to draw upon that as a way to gain more understanding of English? And communication abilities? I hope this makes sense to you - English IS my first language, and I'm having a hard time trying to express my thoughts to you. Never stop reading, though, no matter what. It is one of the greatest things you can do. It opens you up to new worlds, ideas, and questions. What's better than that? Good luck to you and bless you for being a person who strives to be better. We should all strive for that.

Oh absolutely. Your vocabulary grows with out a doubt, but I do think that you must read out loud and gain better pronunciation of the written words. Even here in the south (united states) we have people who's accents or what we call a southern drawl, is corrected with reading aloud.

Verbal communication is about reading, speaking and writing. I have met a lot of immigrants here saying they can communicate in English and yet when they speak in English I can hardly understand what they are saying. Frequent reading inevitably increases your vocab and grammar, but doesn't do anything to your pronunciation although you will for sure be able to spell words better than those who do not read as many books as you do. How do you get your points across if you can not even pronounce the words well? Dictionaries can help, but conversation with native speaker will double your chance to improve it - or triple.

I find it amusing this topic is tagged with 'spaking skills'. ;p As far as communication skills that's a split point. Verbally it can have little to no effect at all. But in written, and typed, communication then yes. You learn rather quickly how to string sentences together correctly. The proper usage of those "tricky words" (they're their, there etc.) I know it can effect the written forms as it's how I learned to write.

I agree with the other responders also. Reading is like practicing the language. Sure, if it is a foreign language you are not going to improve your accent but, you will be increasing your knowledge and understanding of the use of the language which definitely helps your communication skills.

I agree with the other who had responded to the post. It will help a lot if you read them aloud to practice the proper pronunciation fo word. My mother tongue is not English. I learned how to speak the language by using it constantly and by reading a lot of English materials. It also helps watching English movies. :)