4 steps to learning a language with books

Key takeaways:

1. Reading for pleasure in a foreign language is an effective way to learn the language.
2. Finding the right book is crucial for effective language learning through reading.
3. Highlighting unfamiliar words while reading and creating a personalized dictionary can help build vocabulary.
4. Repeatedly reading the same book can improve comprehension and reinforce vocabulary.

Finding the Right Book for Language Learning #

• Choose books that are enjoyable to read.
• Ensure the book provides comprehensible input, meaning you can understand about 75-80% of the text.
• If you're a beginner, consider starting with children's books, which have simple vocabulary and sentences.

  "If you're a brand, brand new beginner to your language, you might want to pick up some children's books because the vocabulary is super easy."

• Graphic novels and plays can also be good options for language learners, as they provide visual cues and context.
• Books you're already familiar with, such as favorite childhood books or popular novels, can be especially helpful for language learning.

  "And the best kind of book that you can read are books that you're already familiar with."

• Shorter books can be more motivating, as you'll see yourself progressing quickly.
• Online marketplaces like eBay can be a good source for finding foreign language books.

Using Books to Effectively Learn a Language #

Step 1: Read for Enjoyment #

• Start by reading the book purely for enjoyment, without worrying about understanding every word.

  "You're just gonna start reading purely for enjoyment, just because you like reading."

• Use a colored highlighter to mark unfamiliar words, but don't stop to look up their meanings. This helps maintain the flow of reading and get comfortable with not understanding everything.

  "All you're going to do is highlight it. That way you can come back later to look up the definition, but you're not gonna stop and take the time to do it while you're reading."

Step 2: Create a Personalized Dictionary #

• After finishing the book, create a glossary of the highlighted words and their meanings.
• Attach the glossary to the front of the book for easy reference during future readings.

  "Once you finish reading through the book one time just for enjoyment, we're gonna make a dictionary that is specific to you and to the book that you're reading."

Step 3: Repeat and Reinforce #

• Repeat the process of reading, highlighting, and dictionary creation with a new color highlighter each time.
• Use the personalized dictionary as a mini-quiz to test your memory of the words before looking up their meanings.

  "You're gonna take a minute and try to remember the word and if you absolutely can't, then you flip to the beginning of the book, and that's when you look at your dictionary."

• Reading the same book multiple times can improve comprehension and reinforce vocabulary.

  "Read through this book three or four times, and you should be able to understand every single word in the entire book."

Summary for: Youtube