Spanish & French
The Problem With Graded Readers (And Why Adults Hate Them)
Graded readers promised fluency. For most adults, they delivered boredom. Here's why they fail — and what the research-backed alternative looks like.
Why reading works for learning a language
What the research says about reading and comprehensible input, reading compared with listening, and why graded readers often fail adult learners.
Spanish
The Reading Version of Dreaming Spanish (And Why It Works)
Dreaming Spanish is for listening. Once you hit 300 hours, daily graded Spanish reading is the natural next step. Here's how Lectura fills that gap.
Spanish & French
Reading vs Listening: Which Builds Spanish or French Fluency Faster?
Reading vs listening for Spanish and French fluency — what the research says about which builds vocabulary faster, and how to combine both for best results.
More topics
Getting startedWhere to begin if you are new to Spanish or French.
Level progressionWhat the CEFR levels mean, how to move from A1 to A2, A2 to B1 and B1 to B2, why learners stall at each stage, and how long each step takes.
Vocabulary & grammarHow many words you need at each level, false friends, and the grammar that confuses learners most, as it appears in real news.
News & sourcesHow to learn by reading the news, which news sites to start with at each level, and when you are ready for El País, BBC Mundo and Le Monde.
Habit & practicePractical guides to better reading comprehension in Spanish and French, and to reading for work.
Tools & appsHonest comparisons of apps, podcasts and tools for Spanish and French learners, and how reading practice fits next to each one.
Exam prepWhat the reading sections of the Spanish and French exams test, and how daily reading builds the skills they need.