Why is Reading Important for Foreign Language Learning?

When it comes to learning a foreign language, people often want to dive straight into developing their speaking skills. That's actually a fantastic approach to get your learning accelerated. The problem is, is that sometimes this can be a quick approach to such a beautiful journey. Finding the easiest way out isn't always the best. Besides, learning a language isn't about getting the results overnight. It's a process that you should embrace and celebrate the little victories.

If you think that you can merely get by speaking in a foreign language, I encourage you to think again. Sometimes, people who grew up by hearing the language can't read it very well or at all. If your goal is to have a good grasp of the language. You ideally should exercise all the main areas of language learning: reading, writing, speaking and listening. So, why is reading important for foreign language learning? Keep reading, and I'll tell you.

The Good and Bad News

This first section depends on what language you are learning. If you are a native English-speaker, reading the Romance languages like Spanish, French, and German will be a piece of cake because they're all based on the Latin alphabet. Therefore, you have no excuses to not tap into your reading skills. For the overachievers out there. Who like the challenge of learning languages resembling hieroglyphics like Korean, Japanese, and Hindi. This might be a struggle for you. Still, reading is a critical part of your language learning journey. Think about it this way, what will you do if you're in a country. Great, you can verbally communicate, which is a great start. But how will you read the signs, brochures, or restaurant menus?

Reading Builds Vocabulary

Learning new words in a language is essential for your to communicate effectively. The more words you know, the better you can string your thoughts together. Guess what? Reading can help you build this skill. By reading the word and saying it, you are using visual and auditory skills. This will help you retain the vocabulary faster. You will also better understand how words and phrases are used in context.

Talking vs. Writing

People usually write differently than when they talk. For example, a doctor, lawyer, or college student will have a different writing style than a middle school student. Learning to read can be thought of as a window into the culture of your target language. It will highlight the differences in how people interact verbally and through spoken communication. The differences can be striking.

Choosing What to Read

Since language learning takes a lot of time and dedication, you should make your reading practice enjoyable. My advice is to pick a genre that you already enjoy reading. You can even find a translation of your favorite book. Choosing something that you actually want to read will help you learn more phrases and vocabulary relevant to your and your interests. It can also help you learn a lot about the country's history and culture.