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In This Episode

This episode of Fluent•ish the Podcast tackles a common worry: how can you improve reading skills in a new language when reading has never been your thing—even in your first language? We offer tips and insights that apply to reading in an additional language OR in your own native one.

Key insights in this episode

• Why you might dislike reading (and what to do about it)
• Do you have to read to become fluent? (Spoiler: no, but it helps in unique ways!)
• Why reading supports vocabulary, grammar, and brain development—especially if you’re passing on a second language
• The difference between extensive and intensive reading—and how both can help you
• Special tips for Mandarin-English families using Little Crab Educational Press books to support bilingual reading at home
• We structured this episode around our blog post 3 Crucial Keys to Raising Kids Who Love Reading
• We also highlighted 3 more Little Crab blog posts: 5 Ways to Help Your Child Hack Word Translation in Any Language, Reading Levels Made Simple: A Parents Roadmap to Mandarin, English, and Bilingual Books, and 6 Awesome Ways to 'Stretch' Your Kids' Storybooks

Your Joy Builder: the takeaway

Here is your key take away from this episode in order to continue to build open-mindedness as a language learner. Whether you’re passing on a second language or learning one yourself, books provide accessible, repeatable content that helps reinforce vocabulary and grammar naturally. But here’s the key: don’t limit yourself to traditional storybooks. Explore formats you may have overlooked—comics, essays, novellas, non-fiction, or even poetry in your target language. You might discover a passion you never had in your first language. The magic happens when you find reading that feels like it was made for you. So stay curious, and don’t give up until you find your reading home in your new language.

Links

• Episode 9 is brought to you by Flodesk
• Episode 9 is brought to you by Shopify
• Theme music is provided by Milk Fangs
• Our Bu Bu Bu was shared by Lisa, highlighting a distaste for people to discourage children from reading "dessert books" or judging adults for reading "low-classy" (thanks for the phrasing Lainey Lui!) materials
• Share your thoughts and language-learning journey with us on social media: continue the conversation by connecting on LinkedIn, BlueSky, Instagram, or Pinterest
• Watch the vlog on YouTube
• Sign up for materials and resources we've created just for you!

Reminders and acknowledgements

If you're found value in this episode and you haven't already subscribed make sure you tap that button to keep on breaking new ground in your language learning. Please take a moment to review the show on your podcast app, or to send this episode to someone you think could use it: It all helps us continue to build a safe-space for the fluent and Fluent•ish that is free of snobbery and filled with joy!

Fluent•ish the Podcast is brought to you by Little Crab Educational Press. Thank you to the language learning communities on BlueSky, Reddit, and Instagram for sharing openly about the struggles that people have to overcome to persevere in the pursuit of becoming fluent (or fluentish) in an additional language. Remember to Subscribe, Rate, Review, and Share from wherever you get this podcast.

Fluent•ish the Podcast is recorded remotely (most of the time) between Victoria and Vancouver which sit in the unceded traditional territories of several Coast Salish nations, across which we are grateful to live and work.