How to read foreign language texts correctly?

Today let’s talk about such method of language learning as reading and translating foreign texts. What is the gist of this method? How to read foreign language texts correctly?

In general, the essence of the method is reading of different foreign texts (both textbooks and original literature) and studying new words while reading these texts. Grammar skill developing is less important, the main thing is vocabulary. What are the pros and cons of such approach?

Pros first. It is impossible to learn a language without texts and books reading. It is even difficult to improve our native language if we don’t read anything, isn’t it? One more plus of textual method is that we can develop our reading and translating skills – it could be impossible without reading. So, we cannot do anything in language learning if we don’t read foreign texts – no matter if we learn a language deeply or just to be able to speak it a little. 

But minuses are also obvious. How can we learn a language in its entirety just reading and translating texts? What about speaking and talking as well as listening comprehension? We cannot learn a language well just using reading and translating. So, what shall we do?

Firstly, we should not just read and translate texts, but we must surely retell them. Retelling is very useful for vocabulary, grammar and speaking training! Before that we can write down some text thesis in our native language – than we look at them and retell the text. Try to do it loudly and freely – you shouldn’t be afraid of your voice speaking foreign language! 

Secondly, for better foreign speech comprehension we should listen up texts till full and deep understanding. Different text to speech converters can help us do it successfully. You can find some of them here:

http://imtranslator.net/translate-and-speak/

http://www.oddcast.com/home/demos/tts/tts_example.php

http://translate.google.com/?hl=ru&tab=TT
 

With the help of such resources we can listen up our texts for better listening comprehension training. This skill is worth training if we wish to read foreign language texts correctly.

In addition, for successful language learning it is necessary to train all skills as a whole: writing, reading, speaking and listening. Using texts allows us to train them all!