How to learn with Fabulang
Fabulang is a tool for practising and improving. It isn’t designed to teach you a new language from scratch.
We assume that you are already learning the language using other resources – like taking classes or courses, using a textbook, having a tutor, or other forms of structured learning.
The skills you learn elsewhere allow you to read and enjoy the stories on Fabulang. But it’s more than just practising what you know. Fabulang teaches you new words, phrases and more.
How does it work? It works because stories give you context and expectation. The context lets you work out what a new word or phrase means. So, with Fabulang, you learn languages by reading.
Get the most out of Fabulang
We suggest you use Fabulang in the following way to learn the most.
First of all, choose stories at a level that you can understand, but which provides a challenge.
- Remember that even within a single level, some stories may be easier or harder. Don’t be discouraged if you struggle, or need to go down a level before you go back up.
- Read all the stories at one level? Try the level above for an extra challenge, or the levels below to reinforce your knowledge.
1. Try to understand the story
At first, just read the story in the language you are learning. Resist the temptation to read it in your own language first.
- Try to understand each sentence based on your knowledge of the language.
- If there is a word or phrase you don’t know, try to work out what it means, based on the context of the story and what you expect.
If you learn a new word or phrase, keep it in mind. It may come up again later in that story.
2. If you get stuck, compare the languages
If you really can’t work out what a word or phrase means – or you just want to check that you worked it out correctly – open the translation for that paragraph.
- Find the sentence containing the difficult word or phrase. Read it in your own language.
- Now that you understand what the sentence means overall, reconsider the sentence in the language you are learning.
- Compare the meaning of the sentences, not the individual words.
- Find the gap in meaning, and use this to understand the meaning of the difficult word or phrase.
The more you encounter the difficult word or phrase in different contexts, the better you will understand its meaning. So keep reading!
If you join our newsletter, we’ll let you know when there are new stories to read.
Can I only practise reading?
Fabulang is meant for reading practice, but if you have a partner who speaks the language you are learning, you can also use it to practise your listening and speaking:
- Try reading the story aloud to your partner, to practise your speaking and pronunciation.
- Ask your partner to read the story to you, to practise your listening.
If the story inspired your imagination, why not try writing a conclusion or sequel?
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