8: Use Reading to Maximize Your Learning

Use Reading to Maximize Your Learning

Reading (along with speaking, listening, and memorizing) is the fourth major language skill that you need to develop. Many people discount the value of learning to read the language. After all, speaking the language is the priority for most volunteers.

However, reading is an important and effective way of learning about a language. Just like listening practice, it is another way to immerse yourself in the language.

Choose a popular religious book, how-to book, magazine, newspaper, or sports magazine. Select an article that looks interesting. It helps if you already know something about the article’s subject. It also helps if there are pictures attached. Choose something that looks interesting.

Then, with a dictionary close at hand, try to work through the first few paragraphs. Try to figure out the meaning first without looking things up. Highlight the words that seem important and that you’d like to learn.

Look up the words in your dictionary, then go back and reread the passage again. See if you can understand more of the meaning this time.