How To: Building a Strong Foundation for Literacy in Your New Language

Give yourself opportunity to exercise all literacy skills in your new language.  

Literacy is a combination of several skills:

1. Oral comprehension: have native speakers read aloud texts which are a bit above your reading level, then discuss them together (don't follow along with your eyes, but allow your oral comprehension to be stretched a bit).  This also helps develop the correct reading intonation.
2. Visual memory: much of spelling ability is based on visual memory of word appearances (length, letter height, etc).  Reading the same texts (at your reading level) over and over will give you opportunity to exercise this literacy skill in your new language.
3. An understanding of the logic of a writing system: leafing through some texts meant to help kids learn to read in your new language, or watching DVDs with this intent are two possible ways to gain an understanding of the logic or perceived logic (sometimes the linguistic logic and the perceived logic of a writing system are different) of your new writing system.
4. Vocabulary foundation: this is where knowing your reading level comes in as a literacy skill.  If you try to read texts which are too far beyond your vocabulary foundation you risk developing a discouraged attitude toward reading in your new language.
5. Whole word recognition: this is again where your reading level is important.  You should mainly encounter words you are very familiar with in your verbal exchanges.  Sounding out words as you read silently is a sign that you may not have the proper vocabulary foundation, and it significantly slows down reading speed.
6. Reading fluidity: be patient with yourself by staying within your reading level.  As your reading level progresses, so should your reading fluidity.
7. Writing fluidity: this is another area for patience.  In order for your writing fluidity to increase first your verbal fluidity must increase, you must have a strong vocabulary foundation and a large number of words in your visual memory.  A great way to encourage writing fluidity is through dictation.  Start by dictating a text to a native speaker and then copying what he/she has written.  Later, you can have a native speaker dictate texts to you and help you correct your errors.
8. Intonation/ Punctuation: oral comprehension exercises are helpful for strengthening this literacy skill.  Reading aloud to a native speaker and receiving correction is also helpful.  Reading aloud books that you have heard read aloud several times will help you avoid guessing.
9. Reading comprehension: read, repeat, read, repeat.  Reading the same books over and over, and discussing them with native speakers is the key to building this very culturally tied literacy skill.
10. Interaction of texts: make connections between the texts you are reading, regardless of your reading level.  Connections can be made even between the simplest of texts.  Still, doing so with a native speaker, will give you particular cultural insights and a broader use of vocabulary.
11. Spelling: again be patient with yourself.  Spelling will come with time, as your visual memory strengthens in your new language.  Dictation is also helpful for exercising and building this skill.