I frequently encounter surprised people who are astonished that we publish multilingual books at Friedrich Maerker Publishing House. The connection between foreign language acquisition and reading is often unknown. It is repeatedly pointed out how multifaceted the effects of reading are on us, a point already addressed in the article „Reading, the Underestimated Activity.“ The following will explore the connection between reading and foreign language acquisition, using the example of Juan de Sevilla, a book of Spanish-German stories.
Stories Help With Understanding.
People learn through stories. Stories have always made a significant contribution to humanity, offering opportunities for exchange between different groups or individuals. They also allow us to contextualize thoughts within our culture and can even facilitate social change. This is because stories can explore various possibilities, enabling a safe shift in perspective. Stories are made by people for people—human-made, something artificial intelligence cannot yet replicate.
Stories Help With Foreign Language Learning
When these stories are told in foreign languages, they allow one to experience the foreign culture. This achieves a change of perspective in and through language. Language and culture are inextricably linked. Language reflects culture, and culture reflects language. For this reason, every language has words that cannot simply be translated because they embody a concept.
Juan de Sevilla
Example from Juan de Sevilla, a small book of Spanish-German stories. The book was written by D.S. Felix, an author familiar with both cultures, who has selected moments in the short stories that make it easier for German-speaking learners of Spanish to get to know the Spanish culture of Andalusia. Learning a foreign language always involves a change of perspective. The stories tell of experiences and events that are part of everyday life in Andalusia.
Foreign Language Books
Engaging with language and culture is essential for learning a foreign language. Stories allow readers to immerse themselves in another culture without risk; they don’t need to know everything already, as they are still learning. Friedrich Maerker Publishing House offers a wide variety of multilingual books, differing not only in the languages offered but also in learning level, age group, and type of book. Nevertheless, all books are pedagogically sound and support various learning methods. The website features a catalog with sample chapters and, of course, an online shop.