What Should You Be Reading To Maximize Your Language Learning?

What should you be reading to maximize your language learning?

It’s easy to get overwhelmed by the sheer amount of literature we can learn from. Baby books bore you, but you’re not ready for any type of novel, so what’s left?

Here are some tips 

For beginner/A1/A2 learners

Watch a YouTube video in your target language, then read the comments

you’ll already have vocabulary from watching the video, most of the comments will probably use that vocab

it’s a short enough text that you won’t get fatigued

the only downside is that sometimes people utilize abbreviations and slang terms, but even these are good to know

Read news headlines and if you find one you understand almost fully, try to read the full article

sometimes the vocabulary used is not common in everyday usage, but it’s a total win for an A1 learner to fully read and mostly understand any text

while vocab is not used everyday, it will give you the ammunition to talk about that particular topic

Watch Netflix in target language with subtitles in the same language

believe it or not, you will learn to read better, especially because you don’t have to understand written description of visuals (usually uses very niche vocab) or emotion

and now you can slow down or speed up 

I watched DARK in German before I felt like I could read a book, and I understood 85% of it. This is because I looked up some vocabulary in the first episodes and they continued to use it throughout the show so it really cemented in my head to the point where I don’t even think about it. Now, I had to rewatch some conversations the characters had, but that’s much better for understanding than switching it to English or looking up full phrases and sentences. 

For intermediate/B1/B2 learners

read fanfiction

it’s ALWAYS good to read about something you’re interested in so if you like any major movies, books, television, this is the perfect option for you

most people use relatively basic language and you can choose the length 

find a comic book or graphic novel

like watching tv, that visual aid really helps with understanding of the plot without all those tricky descriptions

read a book in your target language that you’ve read and loved in your native language

this is by far my favorite way

you don’t have to worry about trying to understanding the bigger picture because you already know what’s happening/what will happen, you really have to discover the meaning of each sentence and then you begin to picture the scene using only your target language

Check out my other post for methods of how to get the most out of reading !

some study/homework tips for y'all :)

keep a clock in front of you. to keep track of time. I like to use an app on my phone so that I’m not tempted to scroll on tumblr instead of studying. it’s also for aesthetic purposes. here’s the one I use.

do the most difficult projects first. this might seem like a daunting task, but getting the hardest things out of the way will clear up your mind for the rest of your work. unless of course something else is more time sensitive, then do those things first.

take purposeful breaks. when you’re studying or working on homework, it can be easy to want to do something more enjoyable; but doing those things can often lead our minds astray. when you take a break, try to do something healthy (i.e. read a chapter of a book, take a walk, make a cup of tea, etc.) of course, it’s ok to take a few minutes to scroll on your phone, but try not to let it take up the majority of your break

some ADHD/ADD specific study tips:

motivate your brain. before I start working on a big project or a lot of studying, I get a bag of skittles/m&m’s/some small candy or treat. whenever I finish a small task (reading one page, answering three questions, finishing one problem) I eat one piece of candy >don’t ask me for logic behind this one because I have no clue but it works I promise<

use a calendar or study tracker journal to stay on schedule. especially with ADHD, it can be really easy to procrastinate. using a calendar or journal helps you to stay focused on your goals and organize your study time.

some depression specific tips:

(disclaimer: depression is a serious mental illness that effects so many other people out there. if you’re struggling and need help or just someone to talk to, please feel free to message me)

don’t set timers. I know in the first paragraph I talked about using a clock, but setting timers makes me feel like the tasks I have to complete are insurmountable and I’ll never finish them. instead I try to chunk my studying/homework by category; it makes the whole thing so much more bearable.

reward yourself. try to come up with some good thing to motivate yourself; but set it for after you finish. [when I get done with my math assignments, I’ll make tea. when I finish studying, I’ll go to the bookstore.]

get out of bed. even if it’s not for studying, even if it’s just for depression. go get a whole glass of water and drink it. go put on new clothes and drive to McDonald’s. please just take care of yourselves <3

my most valuable tip:

you know what motivates you; use that as a tool. for me, it’s aesthetic*. I like organized laptop desktops and put-together outfits and beautiful paintings (probably why I spend so much time on studyblr). so some things that motivate me are organizing my desk before I work, or changing my laptop wallpaper to my favorite painting.

no matter how you study, you are all doing great my gals and pals. keep up the hard work and go drink water (that was a threat).

For more studyblr, follow my blog! //beauty is terror//

*a morbid longing for the picturesque??? richard papen WHO

Masterlist

이미 vs 벌써

Counters 

Progressive tense 

조금,정말,진짜,아주

-만

좋다 VS 좋아하다

Who,What,When,Where,Why

Vocabulary 

Seasons 

Languages/Nationalities

Days of the week 

Countries 

Animals 

Family

Sports 

Space/Nature 

 Dates

Plants

Fall

Christmas

Valentine’s Day

Birthday   

Kpop Vocabulary 

BTS - Boy With Luv 

Monsta X- Alligator 

(G)I-dle - LATATA 

Twice - Fancy 

Resources/Tips

Ways to stay motivated  

Weekly study plan

My Korean notebook

Apps 

Youtubers 

Apps/youtubers/websites

Get better at reading

Helloo! Can you recommend some korean learning books for beginners please? Also if you know any that can be found for free in pdf or epub format it would be amazing. My main source of getting books was zlibrary but since it's down I don't know other websites that have free books.

Hi! Thank you for your patience! Unfortunately, I don't believe I've come across any free PDFs of Korean books or anything like that, but I can provide some books I have heard of!

I'm taking a Korean class at school and we use the KLEAR textbooks and workbooks. I'm not sure if I would recommend them to those who are studying on their own since they're designed to supplement a class, but they do provide some pretty good exercises and explanations without getting too overwhelming. Maybe look into it!

I haven't used Talk to Me in Korean's textbooks, but they seem like they would be good if you're studying on your own. I really like TTMIK in general, so I trust that their textbooks are also helpful. Both TTMIK and KLEAR have textbooks for every level, so you should be able to find something for you!

As for websites where you might be able to find free resources, maybe see if your local library has a website where you can "borrow" e-books -- you never know what they might have! There's also a website called OpenLibrary that also allows you to borrow books. I'm not sure what Korean languages resources it has, but give it a try! I hope this was helpful! 화이팅!

A complete guide to self-studying a language 🌍

Check it out here!

Self-studying a language is an amazing way to learn, if you’re careful to avoid the pitfalls! Here are the steps I go through when making a study plan:

Step 01: Decide what you want to do and what you can offer (what language(s), how much time/money/energy/etc)

Step 02: Gather resources (decide what type you like best and then research and test)

Step 03: Make S.M.A.R.T goals (follow the guidelines and make good goals that will encourage you)

Step 04: Create your plan (using the 3 steps above and some prompting questions on the guide, form a schedule. Be organized, but stay loose and adaptable)

Step 05: Add some back-up or pressure (find an accountability or tandem partner, add the pressure of a scheduled exam, etc)

Check out the link for more Info on each step + tons of tips and links to resources and other guides!! 💪

Good luck!!! Self-studying a language is not easy, but it’s so rewarding and fun!!!

Learn to Read Korean in 15 Minutes