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Graded reader questions | ||
Tags: Easy Reader | Reading | ||
 Language Learning Forum : Books, Literature & Reading |  | |
| blackcherries Groupie Canada Joined 4738 days ago 41 posts - 48 votes Studies: German | Message 1 of 9 11 December 2011 at 11:38pm | IP Logged |
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I just discovered the term "graded readers" and looked at some examples online. Are these useful in learning to read or is the content too boring and made for kids. Some have these designations: A1, B2? What do they mean? What's the easiest level?
Any good reader recommendations for German? Edited by Fasulye on 01 January 2012 at 2:29am 3 persons have voted this message useful | |
| Serpent Octoglot Senior Member Russian Federation serpent-849.livejour Joined 6587 days ago 9753 posts - 15779 votes  4 sounds Speaks: Russian*, English, FinnishC1, Latin, German, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese Studies: Danish, Romanian, Polish, Belarusian, Ukrainian, Croatian, Slovenian, Catalan, Czech, Galician, Dutch, Swedish | Message 2 of 9 12 December 2011 at 5:19am | IP Logged |
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Whether they are boring depends on the particular reader. They can be interesting texts, just adapted/abridged. Some authors are also easier to understand than others.
Here's some info about the levels and links to find out more. A1 is the easiest level. 3 persons have voted this message useful | |
| Cavesa Triglot Senior Member Czech Republic Joined 4999 days ago 3277 posts - 6779 votes Speaks: Czech*, FrenchC2, EnglishC1 Studies: Spanish, German, Italian | Message 3 of 9 12 December 2011 at 9:31pm | IP Logged |
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I find them very useful, at least those that are not that boring. They can help not only with reading itself but they may bring new and useful vocabulary and help you practice thinking in the language. And they may work as a great source of motivation.
The levels are suiting to the CEFR and the most important difference between readers of various levels is the number of used words. Some series (for exemple French one by CLE) have their own levels and give you the information of how much words are used, the lowest tend to be around 300. http://www.blackcat-cideb.com/79-german-catalogue One of the graded reader publishers. I don't know their German collection but I think many of the books are just translated version of the Spanish ones I read. They are not bad, I actually enjoyed them. 2 persons have voted this message useful | |
| Jeffers Senior Member United Kingdom Joined 4899 days ago 2151 posts - 3960 votes Speaks: English* Studies: Hindi, Ancient Greek, French, Sanskrit, German | Message 4 of 9 17 December 2011 at 11:01pm | IP Logged |
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I quite like the idea of using graded readers, but some will be rather dull. For example, Ladybird has a series of readers based on key words. The first two books only uses 16 words, then the third book adds 16 more words; further books add more words until you get to a total vocabulary of about 300 words in 16 books. Unfortunately, the text is repetitive and the language is awkward at times. But I'm certain that if someone learning English spent a few hours to read through the whole set, they would have a good grasp of that solid core of English vocabulary.
I've searched in vain for something similar in French. However, I have the additional requirement that it would have to have audio files. Readers for older children often have audio (e.g. the CLE books), but I would like even simpler books. 1 person has voted this message useful | |
| Cavesa Triglot Senior Member Czech Republic Joined 4999 days ago 3277 posts - 6779 votes Speaks: Czech*, FrenchC2, EnglishC1 Studies: Spanish, German, Italian | Message 5 of 9 18 December 2011 at 12:41pm | IP Logged |
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Jeffers, look at the link I posted for German. They have a French version as well and all their readers come with a CD.
And I think there are a few more publishers, next time I'm in the french library, I'll have a look at their readers and post if I find anything interesting. 1 person has voted this message useful | |
| espejismo Diglot Senior Member Russian Federation Joined 5041 days ago 498 posts - 905 votes Speaks: Russian*, English Studies: Spanish, Greek, Azerbaijani | Message 6 of 9 18 December 2011 at 3:53pm | IP Logged |
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I have the"First German Reader" (1964)
It starts with a nice, short poem: Ein Traum, ein Traum ist unser Leben Auf Erden hier. Wie Schatten auf den Wolken schweben Und schwinden wir. Und messen unsre trägen Tritte Nach Raum und Zeit; Und sind (und wissen's nicht) in Mitte Der Ewigkeit... - Johann Gottfried Herder Not that complicated and pretty manageable with a side translation. Entry #17 (there are 52) looks like this: Von Glück und Unglück reden die Menschen, das der Himmel ihnen bringe! Was die Menschen Glück und Unglück nennen, ist nur der rohe Stoff dazu; am Menschen liegt`s, wozu er ihn formt. Nicht der Himmel, sondern daß der Himmel in ihn komme. Wer ihn nicht in sich selber trägt, der sucht ihn vergebens im ganzen All. Laß dich vom Verstande leiten, aber verletze nicht die heilige Schranke des Gefühls. Kehre dich nicht tadelnd von der Welt, wie sie ist; suche ihr gerecht zu werden, dann wirst du dir gerecht. Und in diesem Sinne sei dein Wandel: Zwischen Himmel und Erde! - Otto Ludwig Entry #32 Jedem Alter des Menschen antwortet eine gewisse Philosophie. Das Kind erscheint als Realist; denn es findet sich so überzeugt von dem Dasein der Birnen und Äpfel als von dem seinigen. Der Jüngling, von innern Leidenschaften bestürmt, muß auf sich selbst merken, sich vorfühlen: Er wird zum Idealisten umgewandelt. Dagegen ein Skeptiker zu werden, hat der Mann alle Ursache; er tut wohl, zu zweifeln, ob das Mittel, das er zum Zwecke gewählt hat, auch das rechte sei. Vor dem Handeln im Handeln hat er alle Ursache, den Verstand beweglich zu erhalten, damit er nicht nachher sich über eine falsche Wahl zu betrüben habe. Der Greis jedoch wird sich immer zum Mystizismus bekennen. Er sieht, daß so vieles vom Zufall abzuhängen scheint: Das Unvernünftige gelingt, das Vernünftige schlägt fehl, Glück und Unglück stellen sich unerwartet ins gleiche; so ist es, so war es, und das hohe Alter beruhigt sich in dem, der da ist, der da war, und der da sein wird. - Johann Wolfgang von Goethe ... 1 person has voted this message useful | |
| Cabaire Senior Member Germany Joined 5589 days ago 725 posts - 1352 votes | Message 7 of 9 18 December 2011 at 11:25pm | IP Logged |
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If that is a vfirst reader, I will better not know, what you are going to read as an advanced reader...
2 persons have voted this message useful | |
| orion Senior Member United States Joined 7011 days ago 622 posts - 678 votes Speaks: English* Studies: German, Russian | Message 8 of 9 25 December 2011 at 7:14pm | IP Logged |
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I often use an old graded Russian reader I found in a second-hand book store. It is not too boring, and I get a sense of accomplishment from finishing even a simple story. It has also helped my reading speed to increase.
1 person has voted this message useful |
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