7 reasons to read more books

Have you found your favorite book yet?

1. Why read at all?

a. It improves your spelling

b. It fosters your creativity

c. It increases your vocabulary

d. You learn grammar without actually having to learn grammar

e. You develop a good writing style

f. The more you read, the faster you can read. The faster you read, the more fun you have.

g. Reading educates

2. Advantages of reading a book compared to e-readers

a. It helps you fall asleep

b. It connects people (tandem reading, reading aloud, book clubs…)

c. The more difficult the topic, the better it is to read a book. Studies have shown that people who read books retain more of what they read than readers of digital media.

d. You see progress when you read a book. This not only motivates you but also helps you find passages more easily.

e. Digital reading can reduce your attention span. Books help you concentrate better.

f. Digital reading can become a dopamine trap and sabotage you when you need/want to read longer texts.

g. Cognitive cartography in reading refers to how readers mentally organize, navigate, and visualize the structure of a text to build understanding. It functions as a mental map for information, allowing readers to internalize and recall spatial or conceptual relationships within the text. This is not possible with an e-book.

3. How do I find out if I'm reading at the right level?

a. Read a page from the book you have chosen. Count the words that are new to you and that you cannot deduce from the context.

i. 0-1 new words: too easy - find yourself a new book

ii. 2-3 new words: just right - read on

iii. 4 new words: challenging - if you are very interested, then read on.

iv. 5+ new words: too difficult - find a new book

b. Can you read the text almost as fast as you speak? Then read on.

c. Did you understand almost everything on the first read without the help of an app or a dictionary? Then read on.

Proper pronunciation is crucial for fluent reading. If you constantly get stuck on a word and pronounce it differently each time, you'll never truly memorize it. Therefore, before continuing to read, have the word read aloud in an app and repeat until you've mastered it. The brain needs clear instructions. This is the same reason why legible handwriting is so important, but that's a different topic.

4. What kind of reading material

a. Children's and picture books: from Starter

b. Comics and illustrated stories: from A1

c. Short stories: from A1

d. Magazines: from A1

e. Graded readers: from starter /A1

f. Chapter books: from A2

g. Native books: from B2 level

5. Which topics?

a. Topics that personally interest you, e.g., recipes, Lego building instructions,

b. Preparing for a trip

c. Topics to talk about with others (your son's girlfriend, your schoolchild's au pair parents, table neighbors on vacation)

d. For your work

6. How do I retain what I have read?

a. Rephrase. Summarize what you have read in your own words; ideally in the target language.

b. Summarize each chapter read.

c. Tell someone about the book, the story you are currently reading.

d. Draw a mind map (overview) of all the people who appear in the book. This will also help you keep track of all the names.

e. Draw a picture of the landscape, people, or space described in the book.

f. Write a review of the book.

g. Highlighting: Markers, pencils, self-adhesive page markers. When I read a book, I highlight, among other things: words I don't know, sentences I like the way they're phrased, words I know but don't use enough. I mark pages where the author describes places, books, songs, etc., that I want to try or research. I also jot down ideas that come to me while reading. Whatever is important to you, the deeper you delve into the story, the more lasting the learning experience.

7. How do you motivate yourself or your children to read?

a. Make books readily available and presentable

b. Live the way you expect. Read books!

c. Start a ritual: cozy, relaxed, non-judgemental, fun. Set a fixed time; for example at bedtime.

d. Read to your children and use appropriate voices and gestures when appropriate.

e. Tandem reading. Read together with your child and only help when necessary. Patience and time are essential.

f. Read below your child's level.

g. Read the same book as often as your child wants. Repetition provides feelings of familiarity and security. Repetition boosts self-confidence because you can read it fluently. This, in turn, strengthens the confidence to try new things. It also counteracts the forgetting curve. To make it more interesting, you can take on different roles and give each role a distinct voice. This ensures that your child is actually reading and not just reciting memorized text.

Repetition is an important part of the learning process, not just in reading.

h. Read stories that interest your child. Let them choose. Whether it's a comic or a picture book, the important thing is that it has some text and isn't digital. Because when your child reads what they enjoy, they read 80-150 words per minute, compared to 10-15 for school texts. (Cory Kolby)

i. Funny, witty stories are always well received.

j. Discuss the book together before reading.

i. What does the cover image reveal?

ii. What is the title?

k. Do you know the author? What are your expectations?

l. After the first chapter: does the story meet your expectations?

m. How do you think the story continues?

n. As a reward, watch the movie afterwards.

o. Compare the book to the film

p. Find a book club where you can discuss the book and ask questions with like-minded people.

I've selected a few titles for you that you can find in the shop. There's something for every level. If you subscribe to my newsletter, you'll receive 10% off your first book order.

I can also recommend Spotlight magazine from Zeitsprachen Verlag (from A2 level).

What are you waiting for? Read on and be amazed at how quickly you'll progress.

Have you found your favorite book yet?