5 Types Of Books Language Learners Should Check Out

If you are an avid bookworm, one reason that you might want to learn another language is to be able to read books by authors in that language. 

Some people feel that being able to say read the works of an author in the original language it was written in gives you a better insight into what they are trying to say as well as a better appreciation of their actual writing style.

Pleasure and enjoyment aren’t the only reason to read books in another language, however, it is also an effective way to learn the language. 

Reading in another language exposes you to the language and can help you better understand the grammar rules. You will have a better idea of how to properly construct sentences and paragraphs.

Reading books can improve your vocabulary and also exposes you to the different idioms and expressions that are commonly used in that language. Sometimes the best way to learn such phrases is in context, to see how they are used, and reading allows you to do so.

It’s not just language learning textbooks that you should aim to read however, here are the best books to read in another language to improve your fluency.

1. Books for children

Language acquisition is easier for children. One of the key ways for children to learn a language is for them to be exposed to it constantly, that goes for written language as well. 

It’s long been recognized that, in order for children to develop reading skills, they need to be exposed to written language. Reading is important as it helps increase exposure to language and makes a child more familiar with the sounds and rhythms of a language.

Parents and educators who want to encourage a child to read and improve their language skills with reading have long turned to children’s books. These books are designed to not just teach and expose a child to language but also to be interesting and fun! Children’s books teach language and, hopefully, encourage an appreciation of the beauty of language.

Even if you’re an adult, reading children’s books is also a great way to learn another language. The simple but engaging texts of children’s books will help you develop your reading comprehension and improve your vocabulary and grammar as well.

One particularly good type of children’s book to read for language learners are bilingual children’s books. The best types of bilingual children’s books are the books that are available in two languages, with the texts often placed side by side for easy comparison. 

2. Your favorite books

One of the most important ways to keep yourself motivated to learn a language is to make language learning interesting. Reading books in your target language, that aren’t textbooks, is a good way to keep yourself interested and motivated.

Reading your favorite books translated into another language is a great way to keep yourself interested in not just learning, but finishing the book! Since you are already familiar with the story and love the characters and plot, it can make it easier to start reading and keep reading in another language.

For example, if you like the Harry Potter series, you can find a copy of that in your target language. If you really get stuck at a particular part, you can pull out your own loved copy and try and compare it to the translation to help you understand it better.

3. Short story collections

There are usually two types of short story collections, collections that share a common theme or collections of the works of a particular author.

Short stories collected by themes come in a variety of genres, from science fiction to crime to humor. If you already have a literary genre that you are interested in, you should look for a collection in that genre in your target language. Since you are already interested in these types of stories, it will help keep you motivated to read the stories in the collection.

There are also short story collections from specific authors. Many famous novelists were also prolific short story writers and you might find it easier to read their shorter works first rather than dive straight into their longer works. Reading short story collections by writers in their native language can help you not only learn the language but also gain some appreciation as to why these writers are so admired.

For beginner or intermediate language learners, reading short stories in another language can be a bit more of a satisfying learning experience than reading a long novel. Short stories are easier and quicker to read and going through a short story collection can make you feel like you are really making progress! Set a goal for yourself of one or two stories a day and feel like you’ve accomplished something.

4. Books that have been adapted into films or TV shows

Being exposed to a language is the best way to pick it up quickly. That’s why we always encourage language learners to watch movies and TV shows in other languages. Well, if you really want to gain fluency, you should read the book as well.

Reading a book that has been adapted into a film or TV show is a good way to learn a foreign language. Seeing the plot of a book acted out or the dialogue coming from the mouths of the actors will make it easier to understand the words that are written on the pages. 

If you are not that big of a bookworm, watching a film or a TV show might be a better “alternative”. If the show keeps your interest, it can encourage you to keep reading the book, even if only because you want to know if there were any changes made for the big or small screen.

5. Best-selling books

If you want to challenge yourself and learn more about “contemporary” world cultures, read best-selling books in another language. 

There are two types of best-sellers that you can read in another language if you want to learn. There are the best-sellers or popular books from authors who write in your target language and there are best-sellers that have been translated from their original language.

For example, the Japanese author Haruki Murakami writes in Japanese, but he is popular worldwide his works are best-sellers in Japan and beyond. You can find his works translated into English, French, German, and other languages.

If your first language is Japanese and you want to learn English, reading his works in English can improve your language comprehension. If your first language is French and you want to learn Japanese, reading some Murakami in its original language can help you learn not just the language but give you insight into Japanese culture.

5. Comic books

Reading comic books in another language is an entertaining and effective way to gain fluency. The fact that the stories in comic books are illustrated can help improve your ability to learn words and phrases via context. 

Popular comic books are great learning resources if you want to learn slang words and expressions. The language used in most comics is closer to the language people use every day than the language used in textbooks or in old classic novels.  

Reading comic books is also a great way to learn more about the culture. Most comic book characters are popular icons that can give you insight into the beliefs and the history and traditions of other people around the world. Think Superman for the Americans, Asterix and TinTin for the French, and the various manga created by the Japanese. These characters don’t just have exciting adventures, they also serve as a “stand-in” for the real people who speak the language their adventures are written in. 

Conclusion

Reading books in another language is a great way to improve fluency. It’s definitely a bit more interesting than merely memorizing vocabulary lists. Books make language come alive and help you really appreciate the beauty of a language and the cultures in which that language is commonly spoken.

Next time you meet with your online native speaking tutor, make sure to ask them what they think are the best books for you to read in their language. You can even use what you read in conversation practice with your tutor. Talk to them about what you just read and why you enjoyed it. You can even ask them to explain some themes or plot points that confused you.

Some of the most interesting people are both well-read and well-traveled and learning more than one language is a great way to ensure that you not only meet these interesting people but you become one of those interesting people as well. Happy reading, happy learning!