Learning to speak a language? Reading isn't that important. Here's why...

Full post here: www.mezzoguild....
In today's episode, I explain why reading is (mostly) a waste of time for people wanting to learn to speak a foreign language.
I also share ways in which it can indeed be beneficial once fluency is already reached.
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[@betavulgaris7888]

I can speak in basic conversations in French without ever having practiced speaking. I just listen and read a lot and when i need it i can use it. The problem is though, that it's in the head but it's hard to get it out without the physical repetition and practice which needs for instant recall. So in that sense no it doesn't help. It helps get vocab and constructions but with the actual physical production of speech it's pretty much useless. I think the problem is that language teaching/learning industries are geared up to help people who are nowhere near the target language geographically. In these instances it's more difficult to immerse in the sounds. I have learned so much by going to my French neighbours house and just trying to talk with her for hours. If i could go and live with her, i would ditch everything except listening and speaking. But i can't, and so i read a lot.

[@Mr190093]

Talking about reading and listening as fundamentally different is a dead end. The key is, as Stephen Krashen puts it, comprehensible input. You won't learn anything if you don't know the message, whatever the medium. My best results have been gained by reading Harry Potter in my foreign language with reference to the English version if I don't understand something and then later listening to the audio and seeing how much I can recognize.

[@Portugueselab]

Reading will not make you a fluent seaker. I agree. Not by itself, sure. Listening and repeating is effective. It is. But we, as adults, do not learn the same way as children. We do not have three years to just listen, constantly, to the language we are learning... all the time. Also, our brains have changed, adults also need formal training with a book to process structures and practice them. Reading and writing will help learning a language. Of course the aim is to not only look at a book. There has to be balance.

[@thorhbar1255]

'adults also need formal training with a book' lol what....no.

[@JV-km9xk]

What I agree is that we have different brains or mind sets compared to babies and young children who can sit around, be useles, and consume 8 hours worth of language by lsitening and watching. We can also do that but it hurts. Just like practicing an instrument, studying, or any arduous and tedious task, our brains activate negative feelings which demotivates us and make language learning hard. It's because of this pain that we think children have an easier time, they don't feel these things. They are opted to absorb language because if they don't their survival is at stake. From an evolutionary standpoint, we only need to pick up the language that our community has in order to communicate with them, bond, and help each other survive. As adults who become connected to a much larger world than their own village, we are introduced to foreign languages and our minds have already stop functioning like that of a young child but because of all these methods and tools, adults can learn faster and more efficiently than a child.

[@nikolacicovacki6462]

I totally agree,even though no one can argue that reading helps but listening is the best way to get to basic flueny and then if you want to expand your vocab reading is the way to go

[@ericdanthon2]

I apply that same method but also include reading out loud. What a powerful combination.

[@ralfrd5]

Have you ever heard about Stephen Krashen? he has good insights in acquiring a language, set an interview or debate with him, would be great, cheers.

[@mamunurrashid5652]

Reading(and writing) is a very important part of the language learning process!!! Interestingly,I learned english only by reading and writing,not by speaking with an english speaker!!

[@johnjcb1]

I think the problem is thinking that one method is the key to fluency

[@tullochgorum6323]

Sorry - not convinced. I agree that too much grammar isn't constructive, but I don't agree that listening alone is ideal or even sufficient. As adults we have more resources than young children - we need to accelerate the process, and can use all of our adult skills. There is abundant evidence that multi-channel learning helps to strengthen the neural pathways, so I use repeating for sure, but together with writing, colour, mind-mapping, song and even movement. It works for me. Your mileage may vary...

[@TheFiestyhick]

Good comment. Your logic makes good sense. As you say, it does seem that reading and writing stimulates more neurons that translate to better, deeper results.

[@electricalstuff259]

Reading is king for vocab acquisition. For speaking, repetitive listening is king.

[@francoisegregyi9527]

The ideal thing to do for learning a foreign language is to go and live in a foreign country for 6 months, and learn to speak, then read, and then, lastly, write. Personally that is how I learned Hungarian (my mother tongue), English (in Australia), French (in France) and Spanish (in Mexico), the last 3 languages in the space of 6 months each, concentrating on learning by heart the vocabulary and grammar. My mentor is Cardinal Mezzofanti!

[@teamjipper2495]

How quickly can you practically grow a vocabulary with your method?

[@sajilasajal5394]

i want to improve my gramer so i hope your books do this for me

[@TheFiestyhick]

May our Lord always bless you and thine family

[@tarciomalcher7273]

Reading is one of the most important parts of the language learning process. When you read out loud, not only you learn a lot of vocabulary but you get to practice your pronunciation. You always come up with these polemic opinions only to get views but have no fundaments at all.

[@mezzoguild]

Reading is *not* "one of the most important parts" of language learning. How many books did you read to learn your first language? Answer: zero. You learned by listening and speaking, not reading.

[@tarciomalcher7273]

The Mezzofanti Guild My native language is just one among several that i can speak and for all of the languages I actively studied and learned I used reading as a vocabulary and pronunciation builder . The are many types of learners and... Man for each their own!

[@thorhbar1255]

@@tarciomalcher7273 Reading doesn't improve pronunciation. It's fantastic for vocab though.

[@NeoV0236]

Look up Input hypothesis MezzoFanti knows whats up.

[@NeoV0236]

Input Hypothesis says the opposite Mezzofanti knowswhats up

[@kenrock6136]

i wonder who's trying to learn their parents mother tongue