Learning a Language by Reading
The purest joys of learning a language by reading
Here at Lingo Mastery, we are all about the fun and adventures of learning a language by reading! We genuinely love to help our readers learn with passion, fun, and excitement!
From an academic standpoint, and based on scientific evidence, learning a language by reading is one of the best places to start! And by perusing the pages of an exciting book, you get to see what kind of information is available. Then you will have a better idea of what to expect as you move along in the direction of language fluency.
Before going any further, here are three great academic examples and science-based sources for you to keep in the back of your mind…
“A study published in the Public Library of Science discovered that people who read fictional stories and were emotionally transported in the narratives had increases in empathy.” – source
“According to Ken Pugh, President and Director of Research at Yale’s Haskins Laboratories, reading can be great for your memory.” – source
“English scholar Natalie Phillips and Stanford neurobiologists and radiologists teamed up in a rare but beautiful interdisciplinary union to find out if reading has any benefits beyond being a good way to pass the time.” – source
Now that we have some scientific and academic proof, let us proceed to the best reason for learning a language by reading…
Learn Spanish by reading because it is FUN!
Remember, learning a language by reading is incredibly fun. Because it will lead to the most memorable thrills of achieving a lifetime of Spanish language fluency. You will enjoy a deeper sense of belonging in your target language. You will create fantastic relationships that are personally fulfilling. And just by reading alone, you will have the necessary skills which are fundamental to ultimate Spanish language fluency.
Apply every sense of your awareness when you are reading
Pay close attention to your own unique way of learning a language by reading. Increase your awareness of your learning skills. And in the end, you will accelerate your expedition toward fluency tenfold.
To be aware of your individual way of studying a language, start from the beginning to commit yourself to read actively, not passively. Because learning a language by reading actively is a powerful strategy for students to retain comprehension at a much higher level.
What we do not want is passive reading. During passive reading, you only read to finish the text. Nothing else. The material will quickly become boring. Then you will lose interest and more than likely quit. By actively reading, you become more involved in the process. The learning starts to saturate your senses and enrich your memory.
Learning a language by reading in an active way, and not in a passive manner, promotes metacognition
Metacognition is defined as an awareness of your thoughts. As if you are contemplating HOW you are thinking about the language material. This methodology gives you more accurate control of your reading sessions. You have a more precise understanding of how you personally learn to absorb the information.
An example would be like asking yourself why you do not understand the third paragraph on page 64. Then, because of your awareness of how you are actively reading and learning, you can address this problem before you move on to new material.
This will definitely allow you to be better than other students, who merely glance over their reading, and keep moving on, despite not being able to understand what they finished reading a moment ago. Their frustration will slowly grow, and they will eventually be unhappy with their journey to fluency.
But you are different, so much better than the average learner because you read the way your body and mind naturally respond to new information. It is almost like child’s play.
Reading helps with mentally visualizing communication of the actual words used
Active reading is a tremendous help with visual communication of the actual words you are using and learning from.
Reading a Spanish book encourages you to use your mind much more creatively. Hence, you read the words and transform those sentences into a visual photograph or video inside your brain.
This mental image is specific only to you. It is your own unique way to process the information and organize it in a clear way for you to retain. Therefore, you keep the information in your memory for long-term language learning.
Spanish short stories for beginners is fun and easy to read, it is almost like child’s play! So maybe to make it really fun, picture yourself as an easy Spanish reader. Really see yourself digesting the information as if you are not struggling at all.
The lack of proper reading material for language learners
The lack of proper reading material when learning a language slows you down, slams your motivation, and does not engage you with excitement.
This is why we created Lingo Mastery and Storyling (if you prefer to learn with our app).
We help new language learners each step of the way. From the moment you decided to take responsibility for your language learning by reading, to the day you achieve candid, native fluency, Lingo Mastery provides you with repeatable success.
Spanish Short Stories for Beginners, packed with 20 exciting short, fast reading stories specifically written in a format you can easily digest and handle within minutes. It’s entertaining, with no grammar lessons or drills. You will have fun naturally growing your Spanish vocabulary, which you can use straight away.
PRO TIP: If you don’t have an Audible account yet, you can claim the audiobook for free by signing up! The audiobook comes with an accompanying PDF of the book for the best possible learning experience.
While reading to learn a language, finding a book that is fun for you to read should not be a challenge at all. You do not waste time searching for a book to read, because we have already done all the work for you.
You do not have to worry about getting a book that is too difficult for your current level of comprehension. Our book is just the right mix of challenge and ease to accelerate your language learning.
Take a look for yourself in the video below which is Chapter 1 from the Spanish Short Stories for Beginners Audiobook.
Learning a language by reading actively is a powerful strategy for students to retain comprehension at a much higher level.
By yourself, monitoring your comprehension is an important step to speaking fluently. Do not just read to get through the text. Read to fully engage yourself into the material. Track what the words mean, and see how the sentences form. While you are applying yourself, your whole body is learning the new language. It is not about sitting there, bored, turning the pages. It is all about totally absorbing your entire being into the journey.
Learning a language by engaging yourself in the material and reading actively is much better than reading passively.
Always remember, ACTIVE! Not passive reading…
The role of reading in language learning is important because it lays a solid foundation to grow upon while you continue on your path of Spanish language fluency. A strong base from which to learn from is like planting a seed in
Especially relevant is how active reading can improve language skills on a nearly hourly basis. You can reduce your learning time from months to mere weeks and days.
How to gain the best benefits when reading… READ OUT LOUD!
As you read out loud, you are engaging all of your senses. It is stimulating all of your body
And reading out loud is fun. Engage your playful side, so you can act out the stories however you wish. Perhaps even use your wardrobe to dress up and dance. You can wear a festival costume and practice celebrating a Spanish holiday. And especially relevant is that your mind will think you are right there, in the heart of the action. You are in the middle of a night market in Mexico City, shopping for fresh seafood. Or you are in the midst of a business meeting, where a lucrative client is about to sign your contract.
Most of all, reading a Spanish book is like reading from a practice script. This is where you can rehearse your actual pronunciation. It is where you can try out different ways of emoting a popular Spanish word commonly said in daily interactions.
Reading helps with written communication
Write like you speak. Speak like a local.
That is our goal here at Lingo Mastery.
Reading a Spanish book will give you the practice to write fluently. You can see the word order that native speakers grew up with. You can see the correct spelling. Therefore, in a Spanish book, there are dozens of chances to see how a specific noun or verb is used in a specific context. Then your mind captures these for future mental reference. As you can see, the benefits of reading Spanish texts are many. Because you have a wide range of key advantages, the trail to Spanish fluency
Reading helps with communication entertainment
When you read a book, the more you entertain your mind. Thus the faster you learn. You can use what you have read to engage your brain in fun ways to your heart’s content. For example, say you are reading Spanish stories. As you go through the story, you form visual scenes in your head. You picture the action as you read a book. If you really want to push your creativity, you can think of the musical soundtrack.
Become actively involved, and truly make your learning as visceral as possible!
You see the location of the current scene in far off places. Maybe it is right down the street from your house. Or taking place in the mountains of Spain during the summertime. Or the dialogue involves strolling down the beach while eating a delicious ice cream cone. All of these sensory stimulations that you create within yourself helps you retain the Spanish language so much better when you are learning a language by reading.
Reading is cheap and inexpensive compared to learning via other means
You do not have to spend on expensive airfare. There is no need to book costly taxis to start to become fluent. Simply by reading a Spanish book, you are in the comfort and privacy of your own home.
Also, you do not have to worry about booking a hotel, or finding long-term temporary housing that is safe and secure. You are already in the familiar surroundings of your own beloved home, where you are near family and friends who can emotionally support you face to face. Maybe you can even get them to join you on the same quest to achieve language fluency.
Every little bit, every little moment of reading all adds up!
When you are commuting to work, waiting for the bus, train, taxi or carpool is another chance to read. All these little moments in your day add up. And you increase your time efficiency. Before you know it, you will have finished entire chapters. Then inevitably, you will complete whole books. It is a lot more fun than simply staring at the scenery as it passes by. And a lot more productive to your Spanish language fluency progressions.
In conclusion, learning a language by reading can be the ultimate way to speak Spanish like a native. So savor the process. Check out our books, and enjoy the fluency results to come!