Does reading by itself lead to speaking well?

Question

I'm curious about how non-native speakers learn to speak well in their countries. Aside from today's technology, they don't have the access to the spoken language. But people living hundreds of years ago could speak in different languages. Do you find that reading can lead to speaking well?

Answer 1

Hello! While reading can help you expand your vocabulary and see grammar in action, only speaking will help you speak well. Different parts of the brain are used for comprehension (reading) and speech, so you need to exercise both. Don't stop reading, but try to find a way to practice speaking as well. You might see if Wyzant offers tutors in your language of choice. As a Spanish language learner, I've gone to Spanish conversation meetup groups that included speakers of all levels, from beginners to native speakers. It's intimidating at first, but everyone is there to improve their use of the language. While I still have a lot to learn, I would not be able to speak as well as I do had I not forced myself into speaking situations. Feel free to send me a message if you would like more tips on learning a language without being immersed in a country that speaks that language. I'm happy to share what I've learned!