How to read Ukrainian texts to improve your Ukrainian
If you just read various Ukrainian texts, it broadens your vocabulary (but usually, it happens only when you bother to look up unknown words) and improves your Ukrainian. You learn useful phrases and rejoice when you recognize familiar words and grammar. However, if you want Ukrainian texts to take your Ukrainian to a new level, you need to select the texts thoughtfully and work with them purposefully. How to do that? Let me teach you.
What Ukrainian texts to choose for reading?
If you learn Ukrainian to be able to understand the news or talk about politics, society, economy, etc., choose news media websites. Check out these ones:
(When you use these resources, you may read the same news in Ukrainian and English/German, and compare the language they use to talk about the same issue.)
If you learn Ukrainian to be able to talk about business, I suggest you try this:
If you learn Ukrainian out of general interest, check the following:
If you want to read fiction or poetry in Ukrainian, go here:
УкрЛіб (українська література)
УкрЛіб (світова література українською). Check out my reading course by the classics of the world literature – "The Little Prince".
If you use Telegram, check out this channel with unabridged Ukrainian books.
How to read Ukrainian texts to take your Ukrainian to the next level?
Unabridged texts may seem to be overwhelming, ‘So many new words, such a complicated grammar!’ 😓 But, please, don't get upset with your level: reading will gradually become easier, especially if you take similar texts by the same author or on the same topic. I promise.
Reading is a receptive skill. It means that you receive what others have created – you are out of control concerning what words or structures to use. Reading is not about you cooking, it is tasting what others have prepared for you.
Remember, how you do it with a new dish at a restaurant?
1. You admire its appearance. (And maybe even take selfies with it… 😁). For a text, it means that first, you read it from the beginning to the end, so that you get a general understanding of what it is about.
2. Then you take the first bite of the thing on your plate and try to understand what it is made of, and what tastes comprise it. For a text, it means that now you start reading it paragraph by paragraph, underlining new words. If it is possible, try to guess their meaning in the context and only then look them up in a dictionary to check if you have been right.
3. If you liked the dish, it is almost a sure thing that you will kindly ask a cook to share the recipe. The recipe is what to do with the ingredients to make such a dish. If you are trying to get the essence of the text, you need to understand its recipe – grammar structures. Go sentence by sentence and try to analyze the grammar:
What parts of speech are these?
What is their role in a sentence? What is the subject/predicate?
What number/person is this? What tense?
If you need help with grammar, please, check out my course "Basic Ukrainian Grammar: Step By Step".
What to do after you have read a Ukrainian text?
1. Write out keywords and try to retell the text, basing on them. Use simpler structures than the ones from the text.
2. Write out up to twenty new words. Always write them out in a context, i.e. write the whole sentence and underline the new word in it. Create your sentences with these words. Create a set of flashcards (paper ones or on Quizlet) and learn the words.
3. Prepare a concise overview of the text: what is it about? You may need a teacher to check it.
4. Write your ending, if the end is open. You will also need somebody to check your text. Go to our classroom to get teacher's correction.
5. Read the text aloud. It masters your pronunciation and boosts your speaking skills. However, you should read it with a teacher or a Ukrainian-speaking person, as you need corrections.
How can a teacher help you with Ukrainian reading?
If you work with texts on your own, you will broaden your vocabulary and polish your grammar skills, but nevertheless, it is not as efficient as when you practice reading with a teacher.
What a difference can a teacher make?
A teacher will create special exercises that develop your reading skills. These exercises can be grouped into three parts: ’before reading’, ‘while reading’, and ‘after reading’. Such tasks teach you to understand the logical structure of a text and the grammar ties between the words, they help you read for gist and for meaning, to predict the text. These are the skills that help us understand texts in our native language. Try out "Yabluko" textbook with learner's texts and exercises.
A teacher will prepare exercises developing your technical reading skills, e.g. developing short-term memory, attention focusing, and dictionary skills.
A teacher will hold discussions based on the text. If your goal is to learn how to read with a dictionary, then you may do away without a teacher. But if you want to speak Ukrainian, and texts are only a means to learn to speak, then you cannot but find a teacher to talk with. Just a native is not as good as a teacher, since a native is not aware of the language structures and is not able to create practical exercises for you.
A teacher will provide corrections of your sentences, pronunciation and intonation.
For example, you may read "The Little Prince" on your own. Or alternatively, you may take a reading course that includes word lists, pre- and after-text exercises, discussion questions, and retelling. It will make a significant difference in your Ukrainian learning. Just give it a try!
Reading is similar to cooking – you see the dish, you taste it, you like it, and then you are ready to cook on your own. Are you ready?
If you are looking for more teacher's tips, check out my blog or join the learner's group where we learn Ukrainian together (and where you can ask questions and share your struggles).