I am quite fond of extensive reading, but i use the intensive reading technique when i'm studying grammar patterns, where i take several example sentences and i see how the things and situations inside are modified by the grammar points contained inside of it. But i have a belief that extensive reading only works well if you understand at least 70% or more of what is written there, in special when you are learning languages like Mandarim (or other asian languages with a written system like ideograms), because some of the words you might guess according to the position they are in and the overall things you've read buuuut.... if you understand too few, you might just confuse yourself by thinking what you read was that (when in the end the meaning of what you read is completely different... and this get stuck in your head and becomes a point of confusion, instead of enlightement). (In languages more similar to my mother tongue - which is portuguese, extensive reading helps even when i know less than 50% of what is wrriten. Because many words have some roots in common or are similar sounding, and that is extremely helpful).
I hear people talking about intensive and extensive reading but I feel they fail to define exactly what those terms mean. Personally I use the terms "fast reading" and "slow reading". For any book or text, first I try to read as fast as possible without consulting the dictionary. I try to guess the meaning of any unknown word from the context. I simply ignore anything that I don't understand. Then I read again the same book or text, but this time consulting the dictionary for every unknown word I meet. The second reading is much slower but I only read the interesting or important parts of the book or text, I skip or ignore everything else. They are not separate activities. I use both kinds of reading for the same book. I read any book at least twice.
Great video, I agree I much prefer extensive reading as it's a lot more enjoyable for me and it keeps me motivated whereas if I tried to do too much intensive reading I think I would be bored and unmotivated, although of course it is useful and necessary sometimes! Looking forward to more videos from your channel :)
I mostly go for extensive reading but sometimes i just mix them together. I read the entire article for pleasure then i pick 5-7 words i don't know but i believe they are quite popular and i use flashcards and put them in sentenses
I think it depends on the level of the text or audio. I use extensive if I'm comfortable with it. There's several podcasts I'm comfortable with, even though I don't understand them 100%. If I'm less comfortable with something I think the intensive approach is more helpful. As more and more things become comfortable I will move more to the extensive approach.
hi good video do you recommend writte down every word that you dont know ? in a notebook or is enough seeing the translation and listening alot and reading
I don't think it's necessary to write down every word that you don't know. In the end, a lot of exposure with reading and listening will likely do most of the heavy lifting in terms of getting it into your long term memory assuming you're not using an SRS flashcard system. Obviously with an SRS flashcard system, generally you are writing the word out ever so often or likely typing which is helpful. That said, sometimes it might be worthwhile to write down the words that you are struggling with or are high impact to give them a bit more focus than some of the other words that you encounter. If you force yourself to write out all the words all the time it might be an easy way to exhaust yourself over the long-term. So with that said, I would say mix it up but I wouldn't feel obligated to force myself to write out every single word.
Extensive reading is popular right now but it is intensive reading that gives you the most vocabulary gains.
I agree, I feel like I wasted so much time trying out extensive reading. I've made enormous gains through switching to intensive.
I am quite fond of extensive reading, but i use the intensive reading technique when i'm studying grammar patterns, where i take several example sentences and i see how the things and situations inside are modified by the grammar points contained inside of it.
But i have a belief that extensive reading only works well if you understand at least 70% or more of what is written there, in special when you are learning languages like Mandarim (or other asian languages with a written system like ideograms), because some of the words you might guess according to the position they are in and the overall things you've read buuuut.... if you understand too few, you might just confuse yourself by thinking what you read was that (when in the end the meaning of what you read is completely different... and this get stuck in your head and becomes a point of confusion, instead of enlightement).
(In languages more similar to my mother tongue - which is portuguese, extensive reading helps even when i know less than 50% of what is wrriten. Because many words have some roots in common or are similar sounding, and that is extremely helpful).
Good points! Personally, I favour intensive reading and would do extensive reading only a little later in the learning process.
I hear people talking about intensive and extensive reading but I feel they fail to define exactly what those terms mean.
Personally I use the terms "fast reading" and "slow reading".
For any book or text, first I try to read as fast as possible without consulting the dictionary.
I try to guess the meaning of any unknown word from the context. I simply ignore anything that I don't understand.
Then I read again the same book or text, but this time consulting the dictionary for every unknown word I meet.
The second reading is much slower but I only read the interesting or important parts of the book or text, I skip or ignore everything else.
They are not separate activities. I use both kinds of reading for the same book.
I read any book at least twice.
I am using Google books to read in Dutch. It helps that I have Google translate to help me on the fly!
Goed bezig! En heel veel succes! :)
Great video, I agree I much prefer extensive reading as it's a lot more enjoyable for me and it keeps me motivated whereas if I tried to do too much intensive reading I think I would be bored and unmotivated, although of course it is useful and necessary sometimes! Looking forward to more videos from your channel :)
I mostly go for extensive reading but sometimes i just mix them together. I read the entire article for pleasure then i pick 5-7 words i don't know but i believe they are quite popular and i use flashcards and put them in sentenses
Matt...
You are deserving More Bro...
I think it depends on the level of the text or audio. I use extensive if I'm comfortable with it. There's several podcasts I'm comfortable with, even though I don't understand them 100%. If I'm less comfortable with something I think the intensive approach is more helpful. As more and more things become comfortable I will move more to the extensive approach.
thanks Matt these videos make my day :D
It's very useful video.I already subscribed your channel Keep it up! Sir . Much love from Thailand.
Thank you!
How should one start who is a beginner? Any recommendations on books for Spanish?
Good
hi good video do you recommend writte down every word that you dont know ? in a notebook or is enough seeing the translation and listening alot and reading
I don't think it's necessary to write down every word that you don't know. In the end, a lot of exposure with reading and listening will likely do most of the heavy lifting in terms of getting it into your long term memory assuming you're not using an SRS flashcard system. Obviously with an SRS flashcard system, generally you are writing the word out ever so often or likely typing which is helpful. That said, sometimes it might be worthwhile to write down the words that you are struggling with or are high impact to give them a bit more focus than some of the other words that you encounter. If you force yourself to write out all the words all the time it might be an easy way to exhaust yourself over the long-term. So with that said, I would say mix it up but I wouldn't feel obligated to force myself to write out every single word.