5 Strategies For READING In A Foreign Language | Language Learning Tips

Reading in foreign languages is one of my absolute favorite things, both for enjoyment but also as a method for improving my skills at various stages of learning! In today's video, we go over a brief review of five different strategies or approaches for going about reading in a foreign language for learning!
I hope this helps you find some great ways how to read books in a foreign language!
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[@pigozs]

I'm at the 3rd year of Japanese self study. I'm starting to read actual novels and it's a great feeling. I'm using a variation of method 2. I read the novels on which some of my favourite anime shows are based so I know most of the context already.

[@tylervick2475]

Just found this channel last night, and I knew I would love it the minute he held up a coffee mug and began talking about language learning. Thanks for the tips and I pray the channel grows! Subscribed :)

[@RobinMacPhersonFilms]

Ahh thanks so much, Tyler! I'm really glad you love the channel and also my little coffee theme! :D I appreciate your support and think you'll love all the new content coming out! :)

[@ronlugbill1400]

I teach French. Yes, those ideas are great. I would also add in comic books, especially for French and Japanese. My students read Asterix, Tin Tin, Babar, Lou!, Caroline, and other comic books in French even though they are beginners. The pictures give them some context to help understand even if they don't know all the words. They will sit and read quietly and they enjoy reading silently for pleasure authentic books made for natives in French.

[@rashidah9307]

Very cool! 😊

[@DavDaJa]

Maaaann a lot of what you're talking about isn't only applicable to language learning. I would recommend replacing "in a foreign language" to "difficult topics" or make your titles and tags more generals. Your content is insanely useful to even people like me (tax practitioners) that read through Internal Revenue Code and Regulations. I've used some of the methods you mentioned, and I love how well you explain it man. Hope to see your channel blow up!

[@jaglarmigsvenska9402]

Interesting topic. Reading is extremely important when it comes to learning a new language!

[@RobinMacPhersonFilms]

Absolutely! I'm glad you liked it! 😄

[@jamesdavis-ford6882]

Way to start out the new series with a lightning strike, Robin. Solid advice, as always - and also advice that leaves a broad range of options to experiment with. The joy is not just in the goal, but in the process itself. Finding those processes and steps that help you unlock one's growing facility with the language is as sweet a nectar as the day one comes to grips with a challenging concept that one has been "noodling" on. Looking forward to Wednesday. Happy Monday, Robin!

[@RobinMacPhersonFilms]

Great to see you James! Your comments are really helpful for giving me a good idea of whether I'm on the right track with my content, both in terms of the substance of a particular video and also the overall balance of topics that I'm covering. If you're happy with it then I feel good about what I'm doing 😄 I totally agree. I love just how many ways there are to approach different language learning activities and it's such a sweet joy to find the ones that really work well for us, and to experiment with little adjustments that make them fit perfectly for who we are and the things we need as individual learners. I really enjoy the challenge of presenting a broad enough range of strategies and tips so that people can hopefully find the ones they love, but also going into the depth that I love to provide more meaningful insights, too! Happy Wednesday, James!

[@annap1871]

I remember the day when I got my first easy reader... it's one of my favourite memories. And holidays when I was reading it.... and my first real novel.

[@RobinMacPhersonFilms]

Welcome to a new era of content on this channel!!! 🥳🎈 *VIDEO NOTE:* I had also filmed a section about annotated texts (or helper texts) but in a tragic video production accident, the audio was lost and I had to remove that section from the video 😭 I will talk about it in detail in the future! *Helpful Links From The Video!* (affiliate links -- thank you for your support 🙏🏼) *My Favorite Beginner German Graded Reader Series:* amzn.to/30i9gGF *My Favorite Intermediate German Graded Reader Series:* amzn.to/2YbA3BP *Chinese Graded Readers:* amzn.to/2UowyXr *My Favorite Series Of Japanese Annotated Helper Texts:* amzn.to/3f6EVz1 amzn.to/3h8yKMs

[@alexandredoliveira1677]

Robin you're the best so far youtuber to teach your tips and techniques to learn new languages, thank you so much because most of the others are so super superficial and always give those chichê advises such as "listen to music, watch tv shows, use this particular method....". I've always been quite lazy to read books and didn't believe that It would make such a good difference, but It kind of changed completely my way to go from intermediate to advanced.

[@RobinMacPhersonFilms]

Thanks so much for this wonderful and encouraging feedback, Alexandre! I'm really glad to know that this video was impactful and that you like my channel 😄 By the way, if you are now considering reading, you might find this video helpful, too! 😊 kzbin.info/www/bejne/f3_bl2eOYtGbl5Y

[@artemsindyakin1228]

Outside is cold, soft bed, cozy cover, cup of hot coffee, interesting book:-) You are so right :-)

[@dwaynecunningham2164]

Dude! Your video booth inspired and helped me. Thanks!

[@tayeedmacpherson8692]

Lots of good tips, thank you.

[@RobinMacPhersonFilms]

Thanks mum! ☺️

[@estherandherlittleworld7821]

I absolutely love reading! Thank you for your tips. Your videos are just great 😊

[@RobinMacPhersonFilms]

Aw thanks Esther! ☺️

[@michelgolabaigne595]

I found so-called easy-reading books extremely boring ... and normal books too difficult ... :) You now make me a great taste for fresh start ...! :) :) Many Thanks

[@jermainemyers2516]

Great info; merci!

[@polyronin]

And he's back! 👍🤗 I missed your daily excitement the last few days.

[@RobinMacPhersonFilms]

Haha aw thanks @polyronin! I'm delighted that you missed my overflowing excitement and hope you enjoyed the new style of content! 😄

[@polyronin]

I do, thank you! 😊

[@JohnJohnson-ox3uc]

Right on cue as I start reading Alice in Wonderland in my current target language. Some great new strategies for me to try. Though I have actually never read the books, I am familiar with most of the characters and general story line. I really like the new intro pulling from various previous videos. It was fun trying to remember which video each clip came from.

[@RobinMacPhersonFilms]

Hey John! I love it when I make a video and it ends up being perfect timing for people! 😄 Please keep me posted on how your experience goes reading Alice in Wonderland! Also I'm pleased that you like the new intro! I'm hoping to keep experimenting with it and improve it little by little 🙂

[@Lara-bn5fp]

Thank you very much for your videos 👍 I stumbled upon your channel a few days ago... i find your videos inspiring and motivational. Your ideas are very much practical...my husband and I immigrated to Cansda six and a half years ago. I was motivated to learn French fast... but it took me some time to adapt to the language... I was demotivated at some point thinking I'm not too smart for a new language after 50- I work at a daycare as an english educator. After watching your videos, I am more confident to practice French with my co workers and the community - even if I make some mistakes, I ask them to correct me. Keep safe and healthy 😊

[@irenemcnamara9699]

A great video! I can't wait to get into Dostoevsky!

[@mingyuez5614]

nice, informative vid!

[@CassandraTel]

I use a paper copy of the book in the target language combined with an audio in my native language. I read in the native and underline words I don't know. Then I read with eyes again while listening in my native and writing translations. At about A2/B1 in Finnish I have gone from 30 minutes a page to being able to pretty much read chapters without the audio within the first 100 pages, helps that it is a young adult book without too much varied vocabulary. I want more graded readers for adults. In Finland they make learner editions of books for learners, selkokirjaa. So authors take bestsellers and rewrite like a graded reader. They cost 25-30€ though.

[@JustinArmstrongsite]

Hey, I've actually ready three of the French books on your bookshelf (Si c'etait vrai, Elle & lui, and La delicatesse). The only one I actually liked was Si c'etait vrai, but I learned a lot from all three.

[@EbbieVersace]

I just started reading and actually reading out loud a few weeks ago.. it’s amazing how much more I can already understand!! I’m working my way up to reading Twilight in French! And I’ve always hated reading and tbh I’ve never read a whole book in my life. I’m so excited to know enough to be able my first novel ever as I enter my 30s haha better late than never.

[@moniquepillar2606]

so cool!! I'm also reading Twillight, but in German (my native language is Portuguese). it's been a fun experience, since I first read it almost 10 years ago 😅

[@roots_and_ruin]

I bought 'Le Chapeau de Mitterand' by Antoine Laurain 3 months into learning French (hey, I was enthusiastic) and even now, 7 months later, it's one of the most difficult French texts I have come across :') Being able to read fairly easily it is my reading goal for the end of next year. Right now I am reading 'L'étranger' and loving it. I think poems are worth mentioning too, far less intimidating than books :D

[@isaacross8001]

Hi Robin! Any advice for blended active/passive reading? For example, I am an advanced Spanish learner who wants to improve my subjunctive and use of accents. I am also an avid reader, and enjoy reading in Spanish to improve my comprehension, sentence composition and vocabulary. Are there any strategies for absorbing specific grammatical features that I encounter when reading?

[@rashidah9307]

Olly Richards actually has story learning courses and books based on this exact principle. I hope you found what you were looking for!

[@signmeupruss]

Two thumbs up!

[@RobinMacPhersonFilms]

Thank you thank you! 😀

[@maxturgeon89]

I also really like graded readers, it does feel good to know you've read something longer than a couple sentences/paragraphs in a grammar book. Reading a novel in your target language is a nice goal, but you need to be very proficient in that language first.

[@hopefillledday9026]

I haven't found any Korean graded readers available in the UK but I have a book by Korean Unnie 10 children's folktales where you have Korean, English and individual vocab which is great! I really want to try the "Harry Potter" method, I've heard a lot of people talk about that, your method 2, I think. Really interesting watch, thank you

[@tallulah2]

Great tips! Do you have any recommendations for graded readers in German?

[@sinpisto]

Any recommendations for grader readers or bilingual bookd for German? Thanks Robin, I am a big fan.

[@MuEnViFitness]

Nice video! Regarding graded readers, me being Spanish would you recommend them in order to learn French? It is so alike that it seems that I can just jump straight into the Harry Potter book. In case you find them helpful, do you have any recommendations?

[@RobinMacPhersonFilms]

Thanks MuEnViFitness! This is a great question. So for me, even when I was a very very advanced speaker of French, I definitely could not just pick up a Spanish novel and understand it. However, since you are a native Spanish speaker that is definitely also different than being an advanced foreign speaker, so it might be a bit easier for you! Just based on my personal experience, I think graded readers could be great for you. Perhaps you could try a slightly more advanced one and see if it's too easy for you or maybe a little difficult. I can try to see if I find any good ones in French and get back to you if I do!

[@skatergirl081894]

Would you recommend getting books that were written for children of that language like elementary level starting to read themselves. Like I am learning Spanish have been for a few years but haven’t put in a lot of time and effort to show for it. I am trying to pick it up again. I really need help remembering he verb conjugations for past and future tenses.

[@Skinup4431]

What's everyones idea in terms of comprehension? Do you look for the 70 /30 split that seems to pop up a lot? For German I never bothered, but with Japanese because of the characters, I find myself looking for more of a 50/50 thing just so I feel each time I stop that I want to continue because of the story, and not just brute force it. Cool intro and logo. Also like the editing around your house, I need a bigger sofa.

[@billywade7794]

Robin. 2 Questions? What do you think to reading out loud if you have no one to talk to? My partner is French yet she speaks fluent English and I find it more difficult to talk to her in French because I feel I may be judged more so than I would speaking to a friend in French or a tutor. Is that normal?

[@dannywascou8754]

Hey Robin! I’m reading my first set of graded readers - B1 Spanish - and have a question: when you’re reading, are you trying to read and translate into your native tongue as you read? Or simply read and accept the words as they are vs constantly trying to translate? I feel like at my early intermediate level, I’m still in the constant-translating phase and hoping to advance beyond so things feel more natural.

[@vincytvholic]

How far are you in your language learning? Did you discover your answer? Do you follow Olly Richards who is a strong believer in stories for learning

[@ametora1231]

any recommendations for French Graded Readers?

[@teresamartinlorenzo5741]

Dear friend. I love your passion. Could I suggest you add English subtitles? It would be so helpful for my teenage students. I'd love them to not just learn English, I'd love them to discover the pure joy of reading! Thanks!!

[@shamicentertainment1262]

Auto captions are pretty good, he speaks clearly

[@owenthompson5214]

Any good B1 for Spanish learners?

[@hedgehunter16]

El príncipe de la niebla

[@patfromamboy]

I’ve been studying Portuguese for 9 years now and I’ve visited Brasil 18 times but I still can’t read or converse and I have to translate everything into English to understand.

[@lipetsk2]

what about "the first chapter rule"? hehe Idk to me bilingual books have some kind of an element of learning so I'd say it's boring. I prefer to choose books looking at an audience they are for. If you're a beginner, pick some books for kids, if you're intermediate, choose books for teenagers and so on.

[@SilentJaguar68]

Great tips Robin, really enjoyed it! I've read full books in both Romanian and Portuguese, and it is definitely an awesome feeling to finish a book and understand the majority of what is going on! And then I tried to have that same experience in Russian, and as you said, it was quite the humbling experience 😂 Since Russian has weird stress rules (or lack thereof), it's hard to subvocalize the text in your head or out loud and know if you're pronouncing it correctly. So I feel bad for learners of English because they have it even worse for our pronunciation 😅 But I've been figuring out a way to get around this. I've found the ebook & audiobook pair on LitRes , and then I will read a short section and then read it again while listening to and repeating the audio, and I found that that really helps! It also helps that LitRes will let you read the first 20% of the book before you buy it, so it's great for testing out the book before you commit! Other languages on LitRes include Lithuanian, Estonian, Latvian, German, Spanish, Polish, and English!

[@patfromamboy]

I can’t understand anything that I read unless I translate everything into English. I’ve been studying Portuguese for 8 years now and I’ve visited Brazil 18 times but I still can’t converse or read. I study and practice every day. I practice every day with my girlfriend who only speaks Portuguese and we’ve been doing it for over 5 years now but I still can’t understand her. What can I do to learn? Thanks

[@MarceloSouzadeAraujo]

For real ? I from Brazil

[@patfromamboy]

@@MarceloSouzadeAraujo Yes. I have to translate everything into English to understand.

[@YogaBlissDance]

Something is off about your study method honestly it might be worth paying a polyglot like Luca Lampariello to figure out what you need to do.

[@patfromamboy]

@@YogaBlissDance I try to contact as many of them as I can but not many answer my messages. I am 61 years old and I want to be able to converse before I die of old age. I’ve been studying Portuguese for over 9 years now and I still can’t read or converse and have to translate everything into English. Thanks for the help!

[@patfromamboy]

@@YogaBlissDance I study using the same techniques everyone else does. I have teachers, I use apps, I practice every day with my girlfriend who only speaks Portuguese and we’ve been practicing for 6 years now and I read books and I watch movies and KZbin videos

[@Wilkie1951]

For hundreds of years people would learn another language by reading the bible in a foreign language and comparing it with their bible. For example, this was great for poor sailors on long voyages. The bible has the advantage that every sentence is numbered, so you can compare say, Proverbs 13:20 "Walk with the wise and become wise" in each. I downloaded FREE audio bibles onto my iPhone in French, Spanish and German. Many organisations exist to promote the bible for FREE! The scholarship behind such translations is top notch. It would be hard to find a language without a bible translation. There are worse things one could read.