Do you think reading a newspaper or magazine in a foreign language is a good way to learn the language?
By Shavkat
@Shavkat (140141)
Philippines
June 11, 2016 10:14am CST
For this question, I do think it would be a great help in learning a specific language. I can still remember my English teacher in high school. She keeps on telling us to read any English materials and learn some new words. In fact, we were also instructed to use a tickler notebook. In this small notebook, we need to write new words and its meanings. Eventually, we need to use the words in our own sentences. I can’t remember how I feel so embarrassed if our teacher will ask for an essay seatwork. I must admit I am not good in imagination during that time. I always do daydreaming during the class. But then, I think is an effective way to learn the language.
Photo Credit: Pixabay.com
13 people like this
17 responses
@brokenbee (11090)
• Philippines
12 Jun 16
Yes, I think that is one way how we can learn that foreign language.
Another is through their songs. I learned some foreign words from their songs like Japanese and Korean songs.
1 person likes this
@Shavkat (140141)
• Philippines
12 Jun 16
@brokenbee If we are going to learn the songs, it would take a matter of time. I am sure it would also improve their intonation while singing the songs.
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@Shavkat (140141)
• Philippines
13 Jun 16
@brokenbee We just need to focus more on pronunciation along the process.
@brokenbee (11090)
• Philippines
13 Jun 16
@Shavkat yes, and it is easier to memorize song lyrics...
1 person likes this
@Chungshop (2355)
•
11 Jun 16
We always encourage by reading English new paper and magazines. I remembered is the Reader Digest, I like to read the story and jokes.
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@Chungshop (2355)
•
11 Jun 16
@Shavkat Do you like [joke], I read jokes first because short and funny and I then share to friends lo.
@Shavkat (140141)
• Philippines
12 Jun 16
@Chungshop Every context transcribed in Reader's Digest, I do like reading it.
@LadyDuck (472243)
• Switzerland
12 Jun 16
@Shavkat Yes, but I have noticed that they are not good all the time. I check using my own language and the pronunciation of the e-dictionary for Italian is very poor. An Italian film is surely better and more real, in the sense that this is the way we really speak.
1 person likes this
@ridingbet (66854)
• Philippines
12 Jun 16
English language for that matter is good when we read newspapers, but what if we are presented an Indian newspaper, do you think we can learn from it? Urdu or Hindi is difficult to understand, i believe.
1 person likes this
@Shavkat (140141)
• Philippines
12 Jun 16
@ridingbet I guess for some people who don't have the passion to learn other languages. It would be difficult. I learned to write and speak Russian by reading a newspaper. It takes time for me to learn. Eventually, I learned it by self-taught. For the Urdu or Hindi, I might learn it if I have the chance to stay in their motherland.
2 people like this
@Shavkat (140141)
• Philippines
12 Jun 16
@ridingbet I hope it will not go to that point.lol
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@ridingbet (66854)
• Philippines
12 Jun 16
@Shavkat true, so shake your head when you talk. that is how i saw the Indian nurses talk in Kuwait.
1 person likes this
@infatuatedbby (94914)
• United States
11 Jun 16
I think it is useful because it's daily news and everyday reading for some.
1 person likes this
@Shavkat (140141)
• Philippines
11 Jun 16
@infatuatedbby We can also be aware of what's happening in this world.
@melindataylor22 (959)
• Waltham, Massachusetts
19 Jun 16
I agree that reading things in the language that you want to learn is a great way to learn a language. I tutor English as a 2nd language students and some have told me that doing this helped them to learn English. Different people learn differently but this is 1 way that students can learn. It is also good to watch things in the language, take classes, and practice speaking. It is possible to learn online speaking even using apps and when you put these things together it can really help students learn another language.
1 person likes this
@AliCanary (3247)
•
16 Aug 16
Yes, I think it's a great way to learn the correct use of language. If you are still a beginner, children's books might be a good way to start, too.
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@Meramar (2695)
•
14 Jun 16
Definitly, it is a great exercise to complement the learning of a language, if you use it as a supplement and not as the only way to learn. It is like a visual learning, as you find there the text combined with photos. That makes it easier to understand the context and it might not be so boring to learn new words.
1 person likes this
@Meramar (2695)
•
14 Jun 16
@Shavkat Watching TV in the original language is also a great exercise where you use three skills: listening, comprehensive and watching. There exists a saying (maybe in other languages, too) which says: "una imagen vale más que mil palabras" = an image worth more than one thousand words.
@rachz_kisses (3838)
• Philippines
12 Jun 16
I believe so... but it has to come with passion of learning the language.
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@Shavkat (140141)
• Philippines
12 Jun 16
@rachz_kisses You are right about this. If we don't have interest in learning the language, then it is useless to give efforts.
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@acelawrites (19272)
• Philippines
11 Jun 16
It is a good way of learning a new language and if you always use it and talk with another person using that language, it is easier.
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@Shavkat (140141)
• Philippines
12 Jun 16
@acelawrites I do agree that we need to speak in their own language. It will be easy and not to forget the way it is also pronounced the words even in different languages.
@satriani92 (136)
• Bogor, Indonesia
11 Jun 16
watching movie with english subtitle, it helps too, for listening and reading
1 person likes this
@Shavkat (140141)
• Philippines
12 Jun 16
@satriani92 It is also good to know more vocabularies before watching movies with English subtitle. Proper pronunciation can be guided with the English subtitles.
1 person likes this
