Learning Spanish by Reading Books in Spanish

As an American living in Mexico these past fewI ended up buying one called "El leon, la bruja, y el
years, I've been working on my Spanish in a varietyarmario." (They must not capitalize titles in Spanish, as
of ways. In fact, I have become fascinated by howthat's how it was on the book cover.) Sound familiar?
people acquire second languages and have made aIt was a translation of "The Lion, the Witch, and the
study of the subject.Wardrobe," a novel I had read before.
One of the things that helps us to acquire proficiencyI had forgotten what a gripping story it was. Once I
in another language is to immerse ourselves in thatstarted reading it in Spanish, I could hardly put it
language in a variety of ways -- I often recommenddown and I must admit I skipped ahead and read the
listening to music that has words or watching DVDslast couple of chapters! I missed a lot, even in the
of soap operas or films.parts I read, because I didn't know words, but I had
I've had a lot of fun, and picked up some Spanish, bythe pleasure of immersing myself in a great story
reading. I'm always reading something in English;and I gained more confidence in reading Spanish.
usually there are several books by my bedside table.After that, I began to go through the book
One day, I was in a mall in Guadalajara, Mexico'smethodically, with a copy in English that I bought for
second-largest city. I had finished my shopping andthe purpose of reading each chapter in both
was waiting for the people I had come with. Ilanguages.
wandered into a small bookstore and startedWhatever language you are learning, once you get
browsing. I didn't think I could read most of thepast the very beginning level, do try reading in that
books there without frustration, but as I picked uplanguage -- try newspapers, magazines, websites,
first one, then another, I saw that I could get thechildren's books, or whatever you can find. It's
general idea at least.enjoyable and you will likely learn something.