Babbel 30-Day Challenge Week 1: Reading

For the first week, we’re helping you find ways to incorporate reading in your target language into your daily routine.

September 1, 2019

Welcome to the first week of the Babbel 30-Day Language Challenge! Every week, we’re publishing an article to help you get in the habit of learning every day. By the end of the month, you’ll have the tools to carry you forward.

This Week’s Language Challenge

The main goal of this language challenge is to make sure you’re learning every day. This is also one of the hardest things to do, because fitting in a lesson every day can be tough. We’re all busy people.

To make learning more approachable, we’re breaking the challenges down into different-sized chunks. If you only have 10 minutes, you can choose something from the 10-minute challenge section. Even if your day is so packed you can only spare a minute, there’s something you can do. The goal is to get at least one challenge done every day (and getting a good mix of them will be useful).

We’re also breaking each week of this challenge into a different way of learning: reading, writing, listening and speaking. For an adult language learner, reading is probably the most approachable. You can read at your own pace, and you don’t need anyone else there to help you along. The main challenge here is finding ways to incorporate reading into your day. Choose one of the challenges below for each day, and you’ll never be at a loss for reading material. Then, check out our resources below for more specific recommendations on what and how to read.

1 Minute Challenges

Change the settings on your phone or computer so that they’re in your target language.
Sign up for a word-of-the-day email or app so you can add to your vocabulary every day.
Review vocabulary flash cards (either ones you find online, or if you have a little more time, you can make your own).

5 Minute Challenges

Follow social media accounts that are in your target language. (See our social media recommendations for your target language below.)
Like a song in your target language but have a hard time understanding it? Go find the lyrics so you can figure out exactly what the singer is saying.
Take a short quiz on a topic in your target language.

10 Minute Challenges

Find a short Wikipedia article to read in your target language.
Feeling peckish? Find a menu in your target language to test your food vocabulary.
Assess your reading level so it’s easier to find texts that fit your comprehension level. We made one for Spanish that can help you figure out roughly where you should be.

15 Minute Or More Challenges

Read a chapter of a book in your target language. (See our book recommendations for your target language below.)
Or, read a short book (a children’s book, a graphic novel, etc.).
Watch an episode of English television with your target language’s subtitles. (See our TV recommendations for your target language below.)