The Importance of Reading

If you’ve been following me for a while, you know I emphasize listening and reading as the most important activities for language acquisition. Of course, we all want to speak well, but the real magic happens when we immerse ourselves in the language through input. And when it comes to input, reading is a game-changer.

Reading: A Powerful Tool

Reading is an incredible tool. Just think about it—humans spent most of history without the ability to read, yet now our brains are accustomed to instantly converting symbols into meaning. Reading is a powerful activity. We absorb new information, encounter different perspectives, and pursue our interests.

Reading accelerates our learning. We no longer have to limit ourselves to building knowledge through direct experience. However, through reading, it’s possible to tap into a wider range of knowledge, both quickly and in greater quantity.

Research even shows that strong reading skills are a better predictor of success than formal education. So, if you’re serious about learning a language, reading is a must.

Reading is Essential for Language Learning

I love listening—it’s easy, and I can do it while doing other tasks. But when I sit down and read, my vocabulary grows much faster. Seeing words on a page makes them stick. In fact, I believe reading improves vocabulary acquisition while listening results in more fluid speaking. Both are important, but if you want to build a strong foundation, reading is essential.

That’s why I find some languages, such as Arabic and Persian, more difficult to learn. With these languages, I’m still getting comfortable with the script, and this slows me down in regards to how much of the language (at least in written form) that I can consume. In contrast, with Slavic languages like Polish or Czech, I can dive straight into books because I already know the alphabet.

In other words, language learning is faster and more effective when I am able to read ample amounts of the language. If I am not a strong reader in the target language, progress will be slower and engagement with the language is more limited.

Using LingQ to Supercharge Your Reading

This is where a tool like LingQ makes a huge difference. In short, LingQ trains you to become a strong reader in any language that you’re learning. When I read in LingQ, I can easily look up words, listen to their pronunciation, and save new phrases. This makes the whole process of reading smoother—especially for languages with tricky scripts or unpredictable pronunciation.

There’s more and more content available on LingQ, and I can import my own articles, books, and transcripts to make reading even more engaging. Instead of fumbling around with transcriptions and MP3 files, I can just open LingQ and get reading right away.

Personally, I consider reading a paper book in the target language a true milestone for language learners. However, to do this, I need to be a strong reader with a sizeable amount of vocabulary. LingQ helps me get there.

Final Thoughts

Reading is one of the most powerful tools for language learning. It builds vocabulary, deepens comprehension, and exposes you to the natural flow of the language in a way that memorizing word lists never will. Unlike listening, which helps train your ear and prepare you for speaking, reading allows you to slow down, process new words, and truly absorb the language.

If you want to make real progress, make reading a habit. Whether it’s books, articles, or transcripts, the more you read, the more you’ll understand—and the faster you’ll reach fluency.