Reading Problem in Second Language Acquisition

I actually think reading aloud is a good idea - obviously not all the time, but linking the sound of the word with how it looks on the page is helpful. Audiobooks (especially "cover to cover") are also good. Other than that - I don't think speed is necessarily the most important thing - enjoyment and understanding are much more important.

I agree that reading aloud would be good for you, Mercedes. And, as gracesmum suggests, if you can find audio books of books that you have in print, listening to them will help your pronunciation. Also, can you get hold of English language films on DVD? Do you have a native English teacher?

The BBC website has lots of activities for practising English

Hello Mercedes, to help with reading I think perhaps you need to practise 'skimming' and 'scanning' techniques. This site might be helpful: www.bbc.co.uk/skillswise/topic/skimming-and-scanning
For general English the British Council has an excellent website:
learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/en/

Thanks gracesmum, I loaded several audiobooks that have sounds accompanied and followed the records every day to read them in heart, but never try to read them loud, I would have a try on that soon, and thanks annodomini, I watch a lot of english movies such as the Downtown Abbey, Sherlock Holmes, I would watch them again and again until every sounds sense to me. I am not a student anymore, thus do not have a native English teacher, but I would practice my spoken language by using some software downloaded from the internet, guess I would conquer this problem soon. ANd thanks Humberbear and grannyactivist, the websites listed here are so important to me, I'd like to follow them to enhance my listening and speaking skills, they are very helpful!! Thanks very much!!!

Hello Mercedes. Your English is excellent, but here are a couple of suggestions to improve your English a little more.

You wrote:^......... every day to read them in heart, but never try to read them loud.I would have a try on that soon^

I would write:
........every day to read them to myself, but I never try to read them aloud. I ought to try that soon.

When we talk about 'heart' in reading, we are usually talking about learning something by heart. This is what we do when we learn poetry or when an actor learns his lines. Then we might say "I've got it off by heart", which means we have succeeded in learning the thing.

Hi, Joan, Thanks for very much your excellent suggestions that help to pinpoint my learning problem!!! I would try that soon! And great thanks for the informative lesson on "heart", I would use it more precisely.

And I am sure there is another lesson on how to speak more politely I should learn as soon as possible, thought your words are so polite that I realize that speaking in a polite way is still my weakness right now, well, in the following days I would pay much attention to the polite issue.

Hello Mercedes.

My first piece of advice might seem too obvious, but is to read as much as possibe. The more you read, the faster you will get, because you will start to recognise more words instantly, just like you do in your native language.
My second piece of advice is to read things that interest you. Have you tried reading any English women's magazines? There are lots to choose from, so you should be able to find one that you would like - celebrities, gossip, gardening, crafts, cookery for example. When I am in Spain, I like to buy Mia, because most of the articles are short and the topics are very varied. Apart from improving my Spanish, I learn so much about Spanish life and culture from reading it - and some great recipes too.

Good luck, anyway - if you keep trying, I am sure that you will get faster.

I'm sorry - I have just realized that I made a silly mistake - I don't know why, but I thought you were Spanish! However, my advice is still the same - read as much as possible and read things that interest you.

I think it may have been the name!

I think you're right - that and the fact that I already had Spanish on my brain, having logged in specifically to ask about teaching grandchildren Spanish!

I have just remembered something abut reading. If you read books that are translations into English, you will find they are slightly easier to read than those originally written in English. They are good to start you off, as they tend to be less idiomatic. Then later you progress to those written in English. That way, you are soon reading for pleasure, not just for language learning.

I found this out by accident when i was studying German.