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Originally Posted by ficbot
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Do others who read in non-native languages think that 'translating in your head as you go' is how it must be done? Or do you just go with it and not even think (consciously) about what the words mean, trusting that you;ll recognize new vocabulary when it comes up and that you'll recognize familiar vocabulary on an instinctive enough non-translating way so you can just enjoy the story?
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I can't comment on French - I'm not very good at it. But it's interesting to read you find talking much easier than reading. For me it's the opposite*. I think it might be because you're approching texts from a completely different angle. You appear to need to understand the particular before you can understand the whole, whereas I want to get the general idea, the whole, before I can concentrate on particulars. So when I (try to) read foreign texts, I don't need to know all words, just enough to get the general gist of it - and of course I don't care quite much about grammar at that stage. Grammar is for expressing myself, writing and talking.
The first book I read in English was when I was 16, by E. M. Forster. It was a bit above my vocabulary so I looked up words probably twice per page, and didn't get much of the story. I read the book once more, without looking up words in order to understand the story. For years after, I generally didn't look up many words when I read English books, it was more important that I understood the story. Over time, I've simply assimilated words and grammar through by exposing myself to texts, but not because I actively tried to learn it. Now I have my Kindle and it's much easier to look words, and I've made it a point to do it to improve my vocabulary. I'm reading a little German now, as well, for the same reason.
So my suggestion would be, if you can at all, relax more when you read - don't start to think too much about grammar and words you might not know. You'll improve just by reading.
* Did you learn French by speaking it? The foreign languages I've been taught have all started with reading, then writing, then speaking. And as far as I know, most people find it easier to read than to write or speak foreign languages.