Improve Comprehension Skills in a Second Language

One of the reasons homeschooling is so popular is because it gives us freedom over our child’s curriculum. While we can each discern what our child wants and needs to learn, many of us should consider the benefits of foreign language skills. Learning a new language is great for developing brains and often comes in handy during travels. Reading is one of the best ways to help our child learn a new language. Keep reading to discover helpful tips and strategies for reading in a foreign language.

​When my oldest son was starting to express interest in a foreign language, but didn’t really have a grasp on parts of speech in English, I purchased a program called, English from the Roots Up. While it wasn’t learning another language, it did help him look at many root words, which gave him a rich base of background knowledge of the English language. Eventually, we moved to The Latin Road to English Grammar. This gave him a good foundation in Latin so when he went to college and took Latin, his reading fluency was better than a bigger level. This prior knowledge helped him learn the new information with greater ease. 

Read Simply

Did you know that it is often easier to read a foreign language than it is to speak it. Your child already reads at a certain level. Even if they’re starting kindergarten, they probably already have sight words memorized. While these reading skills will partially transfer to reading in a new language, it’s best to start at a lower level. Their brain is already doing so much work trying to recognize new words and symbols, so the lower level will make comprehension easier. I highly suggest providing books at a lower level that they’ve already read in their native language. This makes it even easier to comprehend the story and feel like a successful reader.

Read a Lot

They say that practice makes perfect. That means the more your child reads in their native and new language, the better they will learn. Include reading in all your subjects, not just English class, to help them develop this critical skill. For example, they can read about historical figures instead of watching a history presentation and even read word problems in math.

Reading a lot helps your child come across unknown words, which is the best way to learn new vocabulary words, word meanings, and how to use those words in everyday life. Extensive reading in any language benefits your child, but in a foreign language, it can help your child overcome the problems facing many people trying to learn a foreign language. The reading process allows them to see written text, deal with reading comprehension, and can have positive effects on all of their studies.

Read Aloud

In addition to reading a lot, encourage your child to read aloud. Reading aloud in their native language can help them develop their vocabulary and pronunciation skills. These skills can transfer to reading silently or aloud in their new language. Remind them that reading aloud doesn’t mean reading loud. If they’re shy about someone overhearing, they can always read in a whisper or record themselves. The mental connection between reading and speaking will still form in quiet conditions and help them improve their new language skills.

Read in New Formats

We get bogged down in thinking there are certain types of books to read, but if you are trying to raise a child steeped in a foreign language, there are different approaches to make it enjoyable. For example, purchase a book that they love in the new language. The Cat in the Hat, and Green Eggs and Ham can be found in different languages. Harry Potter has been translated into 85 different languages. They can compare the words and see the differences between their first language version and the new language. This is a great way to get them really interested in learning.

You may want to avoid the use of traditional academic books. Textbooks are usually dry and boring. But there are plenty of other types of reading to try. For example, other formats to try in a foreign language are newspaper articles, magazines, or using Google Translate to translate their favorite phrases and sayings into their new language. Finding different ways to see and read in their target language is fun and exciting and gives them plenty of reading practice.

Other ideas for Reading in New Formats:

Find candy bars with wrappers in the foreign language

Look for food – cereal boxes, pasta boxes, and more in the foreign language

See if you can find a local organization dedicated to teaching that language or culture. You may not want a traditional teacher, but classroom interaction may prove to be valuable.

Find a blog post or website in that language. You can print out the text of the language and have Google Translate convert it to your native language. 

Find audio books in the new language. An audio recording allows your child to hear a foreign language, and this should help with the language-learning process.

Don’t discount the use of social media. Find a few accounts with native speakers that post regularly. This is a great way to see photos from the location and to translate the posts easily to your own language. Instagram is a great platform for this technique. As always, be sure to monitor your child’s usage of any social media platform. 

Choose an Easy Language

Some languages are considered more complex than others. In fact, Mandarin Chinese is considered the hardest language to learn. Consider selecting a more straightforward foreign language such as French, Spanish, or Italian. However, you may want to select a language that you have some knowledge of yourself.

Read and Write

Lastly, encourage your child to write notes while they read. Many people of all ages already do this to help themselves understand difficult books, such as writing in the margins of your Bible. Your child can apply the same principles when reading in their new language, no matter what book they’re reading. They can write down vocabulary definitions, pronunciation questions, or any other information they need to help them read better. Bonus points for improving their writing skills!

These tips and strategies can help your child read well in a new and foreign language. While language acquisition takes time, reading in a new language can help them develop the skill quickly. Encourage them as they practice their reading and language skills, so they don’t just develop skills but confidence in their abilities.