How to read a book and learn from it
Hello, all. One of my best Christmas presents was the Spanish language version of "The Old Man and the Sea" ("El viejo y el mar"). I loved the English version, and I'm lookiing forward to tackling this one.
Having read the first couple of pages, I can usually get the gist of each sentence, though there are usually one, two, or three words I don't know.
From your experiences, do you find it better, from a learning standpoint, to look up each unfamiliar word as you come to it, or just blow through as best you can, looking up the unknown words sometime later?
Thanks for any tips and advice!! Muchas gracias por ayudarme.
2 Answers
It depends what I am reading and where I am reading. For example to improve my vocabulary I like reading articles by writers on their blogs or in newspapers [electronic edition] Eg Arturo Perez Reverte here or Lorenzo Silva or Elvira Lindo here You say you are a beginner and Perez Reverte can use complicated words and structures. I read once without looking anything up - if it is interesting I either print it or paste to my computer then look up words and phrases - make a note of them and save with the article. It is often useful to check phrases rather than individual words plus when everything is new check the verb tenses. The more you read without realising it the more you absorb the way a sentence is structured in another language. You can also read about a world event in two or three papers and note the use of different language. So far as reading a novel I cannot resist looking up all the words I don't know! However, I read a chapter either underlining in pencil words I don't know or making a seperate note. I then look them up - I use word reference - the Collins side is very good on idioms. I then reread it this time out loud enjoying knowing the new words. It is important you work out phrases so you know when it is an idiom. I like detective novels and find I now know a lot of the Police/lawyer language eg words for prison, stabbing etc. It is worth keeping a note of vocabulary which particularly strikes you - be it on a blog from a twitter feed an advert or whatever and go back and read them - one day you will look at an article and think Ive read this word before and you will know it.
This may not be the best advice, but it worked for me learning English. I also wrote down every new word. You really don't "enjoy" what you are reading, but I found it really helped me . In fact I think that my knowledge of colloquial American Engilsh has surpassed my knowledge of colloquial authentic Spanish of any region, but I am quickly learning the Mexican way.
