I saw a Latin edition of “The Hobbit” last time I was at the bookstore… Do you read any foreign languages? Do you ENJOY reading in other languages? – BTT

Yes, I do read in French, and I aim to read one French book a year. My French is not fluent, and it is actually my third language. I can only read in two of three languages that I speak (also with varying influence). I do enjoy reading in other languages and languages in general, but when I read in French, it is often slow because I often have to stop, reread, or look a word up in the dictionary. I talked to another Anglophone who reads in French and we both commiserated that reading in French sometimes feels like watching the events of the book through a screen. I do think I did a little better this past holiday with Bel-Ami, but that’s probably because I often read some of the English chapters afterwards.

I definitely think reading in another language not only keeps up your skills in it, but also challenges your brain. Reading is a good mental exercise after all.

How about you?