The “Independent Reading” manual has been developed for usage by students in their first year of study, with regard to the independent study aspect of the subject “Reading and writing practice”, as incorporated within the standard curriculum for the bachelor programme 60230100 – Philology and language teaching (English). The manual is chiefly indebted to the literary work of the English writer Michael Bond, “Adventures of Paddington”, due to the profound educational value it encapsulates, as well as its universal popularity among both children and adults. A variety of technologies and materials are provided for independent reading, with the primary objective being to enhance students’ Vocabulary from level B2 to level C1. The manual has been designed for first-year students in philological fields such as 60230100 – Philology and Language Education (English), 60230100 – Philology and Language Teaching (Roman-Germanic), and 60230200 – Theory and Practice of Translation (Roman-Germanic Languages). The manual’s primary focus is on increasing students’ Vocabulary through the reading of fiction. The implementation of this study guide enables students to analyse new C1-level words in literary works, including their corresponding synonyms, antonyms, and phraseological units, and to learn to use them effectively in their own speech, thereby enriching their English vocabulary.