How to improve your reading skills while learning a second language
In my experience, improving you reading skills while learning a second language is one of the best ways of learning any one of the 85+ languages taught at ICLS. There are four fundamentals to learning a new language: Speaking, listening, writing, and reading, and although it’s the latter of these that we’re going to look at here, we’ll see how being able to read in a second language underpins each of the other three.
When you’re reading in the language you’re learning, you can go at your own pace, secure in the knowledge that you’re not in a sprint to get over the finishing line first! Although reading in a second language may feel a little intimidating to start with, this will soon pass as you get into the rhythm of the book, paper, magazine, website, blog, or whatever it is that you’ve chosen to read. And the more you read in the language you’re learning, the easier the process will become!
So how can you improve your reading skills while learning a second a language?
When you start out reading a text that’s not written in your own native tongue, I strongly recommend that you don’t look up every single word when you’re not sure of its meaning. Constantly reaching for the dictionary will make the whole exercise a chore and a bore and learning a new language should be fun as well as educational! As long as you’re getting the gist of what you’re reading, that’s the most important thing. So, I’d recommend that you only reach for the dictionary if you find yourself utterly confused, or else the fluency of your reading will be lost. Read carefully, don’t rush, and you’ll find yourself slowly but surely easing into the language in which the text is written. Tell yourself from time to time that no matter how good a translation may be, it can never be as good, as reading a book or text in the language in which it was originally written. Remember to give yourself a metaphorical pat on the back from time to time. You’re doing great!
Improving your reading skills while learning a second language will come more naturally and much quicker if you avoid the temptation to constantly re-translate what you’re reading back into your own language. When you’re reading in a language that’s not your own, it’s crucial that you think in that language too. In this sense, reading in a second language is much the same as speaking, writing, and listening in a second language. You’re wasting your energy if you’re constantly translating what you’re reading or hearing back and forth. This is a really important point to consider. When you think in the language you’re learning, you’re training your mind to function in a bilingual way. This is the crux of how to improve your reading skills in a second language.
Another of the great benefits for language students of reading while learning a new language is that you’ll find your vocabulary rapidly expanding and improving. But training the brain to remember what you’re learning is like exercising your muscles. You’ll need to reinforce your learning by making notes, particularly of words and phrases that you’ll want to use in the future. Underline the key words and phrases you want to remember or are unsure of, then write them down later once you’re finished reading. While you’re reading in second language, make sure you have a notebook and a pen close to hand. Go through your notebook every day to ensure that you remember what you learn! Did you know that Winston Churchill made it a practice to learn a new word every single day of his life? He kept a notebook by his side for just such purpose. Do the same!
And a further good tip to help improve your reading skills while learning a second language is to read aloud rather than silently in your head. This can be especially useful if you find your mind wandering and your concentration waning. By doing so, you’ll find yourself in syncopation with the rhythm and beat of the language that you’re learning. Reading aloud will also help you greatly with your pronunciation and enable you to improve the delivery of your speech in everyday situations.
Making carefully considered choices about what you’re going to read is really important too. Academic books can be dry, but they will be grammatically correct, and this will be useful for improving your reading skills while learning a second language. Your teacher at ICLS will be providing you with plenty of written learning material for your language course, all of which will help you develop your grammar skills, vocabulary and support your learning. Allow yourself to be guided by your teachers. They’re the experts! Non-academic writing, though not always grammatically perfect, can really enhance your grasp of everyday word, phrases, and colloquial speech.
Make sure you take regular breaks too. I can’t over-emphasize the importance of this. Doggedly wading through a long piece without giving yourself frequent breaks is not conducive to fluent reading, vocabulary retention and overall enjoyment of a language that you’re learning!
Reading and writing go hand in hand, so as well as improving your reading skills while learning a second language, you’ll have the added bonus of greatly improving your written and spoken language skills too!
Summary:
- Don’t look up every single word when you’re not sure of its meaning.
- Only reach for the dictionary if you find yourself utterly confused, or else the fluency of your reading will be lost.
- Avoid the temptation to constantly re-translate what you’re reading back into your own language.
- Reinforce your learning by making notes, particularly of words and phrases that you’ll want to use in the future.
- Read aloud rather than silently in your head.
- Make sure you take regular breaks too.
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