You can finally read at the intermediate level.
You can comprehend simple texts and identify every other word or grammar structure. Reading has become less of an insurmountable slog and has instead become an (occasionally) enjoyable challenge. Completing entire novels or specialized texts is far beyond your current abilities, but the fact that it now genuinely seems achievable (as compared to the seemingly infinite amount of improvement necessary as a beginner) is more powerful a motivator than anything else.
Now that your learning journey seems on the incline, reading in your foreign language is one of the most effective ways to absorb new vocabulary and unconsciously familiarize yourself with grammar structures. Here are some tips to efficiently learn your chosen language through reading:
Start building advanced vocabulary by focusing on your niche interests
Chances are, you understand or at least can contextually piece together the meanings of most words. But when the vocabulary starts becoming specialized, and the page somehow melts into a sea of unfamiliar terms, that ever-familiar sensation of hopeless confusion that you felt at the beginning of your language learning journey will again slowly bubble to the surface. One way to combat this challenge is to choose a field or niche that interests you, and build your vocabulary with related terms before moving to the next topic.
For example, say you’re learning Spanish and interested in politics and current events. You can begin reading The New York Times en Español, a website where all New York Times articles are translated into Spanish. A highly accurate and reputable site, it is brimming with specific terminology and topics that can gradually build vocabulary related to government, international relations, immigration, and more. Instead of attempting to constantly build upon a wide variety of fields, this piecemeal approach is both more feasible and intrinsically motivating, ultimately resulting in more substantial results.
Have audio references
Reading at the intermediate level brings to mind light novels and moderately difficult passages. However, other media formats, such as video essays and audiobooks, can also be utilized to enhance your language learning journey. Truly honing in on the native pronunciation of a text while reading has the following benefits: 1) it naturally improves your listening comprehension; 2) it gives you the opportunity to follow along and practice your pronunciation; 3) if you’re anything like me, it allows you to comprehend the material’s contents more easily, as you’re forced to stop dissecting each word and instead instinctively follow along to what you’re hearing.
Be consistent
While seemingly so obvious, it doesn’t require explanation, it’s still important to note that you can only progress if you’re always learning slowly but surely. Absorbing dozens of vocabulary words and speeding through a novel ultimately amounts to nothing if you can’t remember their definitions the next day. Even a mere ten to twenty minutes of reading while in transit or before bed can significantly add up over the course of several months, which is much more valuable than a hastily spent hour or two every week. The merits of quality over quantity become apparent here, and it’s paramount to make all your practice reading amount to something meaningful.