# How to start reading in a new language

Source: https://superlexa.com/learn/reading-with-familiar-words/
Published: 2026-09-28

Use familiar words to find the main idea, look up what matters, and reread a short passage. A gentle way into Spanish and French reading.

Start with a short passage you can partly understand. Read once for the main idea, look up the words that block your understanding, and read again to see how the pieces fit together.

## Find a foothold

Look for names, familiar-looking words, and clues in the situation. A sentence with *festival*, *música*, and *chocolate* already offers several ways in, even before you know every connecting word.

## Choose what to look up

If a word stops you from following the story, check it. If you can understand the scene without it, you might keep reading and return later. You don't need to use the same approach for every passage.

## Give the passage a second reading

On your second pass, notice something you missed: a repeated word, an article, or how a verb changes. Keep the exercise small enough that you want to read another paragraph.

Try the approach with our [Spanish story about Flight MH370](/learn/spanish-flight-mh370/) or [French story about Flight MH370](/learn/french-flight-mh370/).