The Benefits of Reading in a Foreign Language
A great way to improve your vocabulary and connect with other cultures
One of the great joys of studying a foreign language comes from developing your reading ability.
There is something magical about being able to understand a language you haven’t grown up with. It is like cracking a code and entering an enchanting new universe where everything is more vibrant.
Studying Hispanic Studies at university and spending an Erasmus+ year in Spain improved my level of Spanish enormously. The area I developed the most in was undoubtedly speaking, being surrounded by natives on a daily basis.
Another way in which I improved was through reading, an aspect of language learning I feel is often overlooked. Since graduating, I continue to immerse myself in the Spanish-speaking world's literature because the benefits are endless.
My journey as a Spanish student wasn’t all plain sailing, but I can appreciate that it was certainly worthwhile after years of hard work. Below is not an exhaustive list, but simply a few reasons why reading in a foreign language is so rewarding based on my experiences.
It Enhances Your Skills In The Foreign Language
Quite simply, the more you read in any language, the better your comprehension will be. Repetition is key to developing your skills, so the more you read, the more you’ll notice specific phrases and grammatical structures tend to crop up frequently. Reading helps increase that familiarity and ensures words become ingrained in the mind.
Expanding your vocabulary means that those words that were once unknown symbols on the page are transformed into life. It’s as if with each word you learn you are adding another piece of the jigsaw to describe the whole picture in a passage becomes clearer.
“A different language is a different vision of life.” — Federico Fellini
Another way of refining your foreign language reading skills is to look for a book's translated version from your mother tongue. I am currently doing this with the Lord of the Rings Trilogy. Because of my nerdy expertise with the Tolkien universe, the Spanish-language version isn’t too difficult for me to comprehend. Even though I hadn’t previously encountered words like ‘jinete’ (rider) and ‘desenvainar’ (to unsheathe), I instantly understood their meanings because of the context.
As well as improving vocabulary and grammar, reading in another language can teach you about another country’s culture and history. In my case, reading Nada (1945) by Carmen Laforet at university transported me into sombre post-Civil War Barcelona better than any history book written in English ever could.
It Forces You To Use Your Initiative
During the early stages of studying a foreign language, you read many passages containing words you don’t know. Although I have stated the advantages of looking up definitions, sometimes it is actually more beneficial not to. The reason for this is that you can often figure out the significance of one mysterious word by examining other more recognisable ones in the same sentence.
It isn’t always possible or practical to have access to a dictionary, and relying on one too much can also be a sign of laziness if it stops you from truly evaluating the sentence as a whole to make sense of that one bit you don’t understand. It is the language equivalent of trying to find x in a maths problem, and as your vocabulary expands, certainly becomes easier.
Moreover, this is an extremely useful technique when you’re engaged in a conversation with a native speaker and really have to think on your feet.
It Helps Improve Your Native Language
This might seem like a slightly strange point. However, when you think about it, it actually makes a lot of sense. To read in a foreign language, you’ve got to have a language of your own which you can fall back on to help make sense of things. It acts as a safety net and can also be expanded through your development in a new language.
When I read in Spanish, I come across some words whose English definitions I don’t even know. Through Spanish, I have been forced to learn a new word in my own language. The two go hand in hand: the greater your vocabulary in one language, the higher the potential for growth in the other.
You Discover Wonderful International Writers
Although many international books have excellent translations, it is always better to read them in their original form.
To experience a book in its original language truly shows us how the writer intended it to be. When you become proficient in another language, your world opens up a lot more, and you have access to a greater selection of talented writers.
It’s Fun!
It is immensely satisfying to be able to comprehend something that you once couldn’t. It’s like unearthing a magic portal into a previously unreachable world.
Reading in a foreign language enriches your imagination. It enables you to view life with a more open mind and to better understand people and places from other countries.
So take the plunge and revel in your progress as you break down language barriers and connect with other worlds through the power of the written word.
