Igor Galkin
Translate every word "Don't try translating an every word, just try to realize the general meaning" - this tip I've been hearing rather frequently, but during the reading I feel uncomfortable when I skip the words and I can't rid of the wish understanding every single word. Am I alone who has this problem and who has failed to deal with it? Is it a big problem in your opinion?
May 3, 2019 6:42 AM
Comments · 6
2
You're not alone with this problem. In my opinion, it’s a huge problem if it interferes with your enjoyment of the reading or slows your reading down significantly. Learning a foreign language means you’re going to run into a lot of stuff that you won’t understand immediately, so if you have an obsessive need to understand absolutely everything immediately, that’s not good. I don’t have time to go into details right now, but I think you already understand that this mindset is causing you unnecessary difficulty. I say “unnecessary”, because we do have control over our mindsets, even if it seems hard at times. Even if we don’t like to admit it at times.

May 3, 2019
1
To clarify my previous comment: I assume that you’re using material at a suitable level for your current reading abilities (which should be slightly higher than your speaking / listening abilities). If you understand 85 to 95% of the words, that should be enough to enjoy the text and pick up new words in context. If, however you understand fewer than 80% of the words, then you should definitely find some easier material, or find some other learning method that you enjoy and works for you.

May 3, 2019
1
I experience translating Arabic texts into English from time to time and I feel the same when I can’t skip many words as they contain the main meaning of that text.
May 3, 2019
I think that if you understand at least 65 to 75 % is quite good and you don't have necessarily change matherial or method
May 3, 2019
I feel the same if I realize the words that I'm skipping are important but not any unknown word is necessary.
May 3, 2019
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