Today at Living Language we are celebrating el Dia del Libro with a tip and some recommended reading for lovers of books and the Spanish language. Let’s start with the tip.
Many people try to learn a language by immersing themselves in that language: listening to radio in the language, watching television in the language, and reading books in the language. This is a great way to improve your language skills in an engaging way, but for some, it can become too difficult to follow the plot of a story in another language, and these language learners may end up jumping ship a few chapters in. A way to make this experience fun and effective is to read books that you have read already (or are reading simultaneously) in English. If you read simultaneously, you can read one chapter at a time, first in English, then in Spanish. Already knowing the story in English frees your mind to focus not just on what is being said but how it is being said. Some prefer to read a book that they have read in the past, which allows them to rediscover an already familiar story. Don’t forget that you should skip over words you don’t know and focus on general meaning rather than each individual word.
The most important thing is to pick something engaging to read. Here are some great books that you can read in English and Spanish:
Cuando era Puertorriqueña (When I was Puerto Rican) is an autobiography by Esmeralda Santiago, beginning with her childhood in Puerto Rico and following her as she and her family move to to their new home in the Bronx and adapt to a new culture and a new language.
*chosen to be part of World Book Night this year.
El Juego de Ripper (Ripper) is a fast-paced thriller taking place in San Francisco, written by the world-renown author Isabelle Allende whose protagonist is a brilliant teenage detective.
Medianoche en México (Midnight in Mexico), written by fearless reporter Alfredo Corchado, explores the violent world of drug trafficking in Mexico.
Supercerebro blends the science and spirituality expertise of Deepak Chopra, MD and Harvard Medical School professor Rudolph E. Tanzi to show you how to harness the power of your own supercerebro (super brain) to achieve health, happiness and wisdom.
Are you ready to learn Spanish and practice by reading en español? Sí? Then go to our Facebook page and enter for a chance to win a FREE Living Language Spanish, Platinum Edition as well as these Vintage Español books by Javier Marías in both English and Spanish:
Corazón tan blanco
Cuando fui mortal
Mañana en la batalla piensa en mí
Negra espalda del tiempo
Todas las almas
Los enamoramientos
