Improve your Spanish - Read Out Loud

Have you visited the Spanish section in the children’s room at your local library? A sure-fire way to improve your Spanish is by reading a children’s book out loud to a friend or even just out loud to yourself.

First, find a children’s book that is at your Spanish level. I remember my grade school librarian telling me to pick up a book and count the words that I didn’t know on my fingers. If I reached five words for one page, then that book was too hard for me. That seems like a good rule of thumb. Trying to read a book in Spanish that is above your reading level is certain to end in a headache. Harry Potter is the perfect level for me. I’ve already read it in English, so I know the basic arc of the story. When I read, I don’t know every word, but I know enough words to follow the story. Because there are some words that I don’t know, this also helps me to expand my vocabulary.

When you read out loud, you are training your mouth and your brain. Before reading Harry Potter out loud with my sweetie, I could not roll my “r’s.” After making attempt after attempt of reading Spanish words with “r’s” in them, I suddenly could roll my “r’s.” Every word you read gives you a chance to practice Spanish pronunciation. Reading out loud also trains your brain. If you read fast enough, you won’t give your brain a chance to translate the sentences into English. This is really important. To speak Spanish more fluently, you need to start thinking in Spanish, as opposed to thinking in English and translating to Spanish. Reading a children’s book out loud gives you the chance to speak, hear, and understand perfectly written, grammatically correct Spanish. This helps your Spanish because you are an active participant; you are reading, speaking, hearing, and comprehending Spanish all at the same time!

Visit your local library and find yourself a children’s book in Spanish today!