How One Simple Question — and My Personal Journey — Led Me to Build a Reading Program for Bginner Spanish Learners.
- Violeta de Gonzalez
- 2 days ago
- 10 min read
Updated: 1 day ago
I spent years learning a language I can no longer speak.
At one point, I had reached an advanced level in German.
I had built a solid vocabulary and understood the grammar (German grammar is no joke!) 🤯
I studied a lot and didn’t miss class.
I felt confident and fluent.
I even took one of the most advanced exams at the time (I just checked the date on the diploma, and it says 2000! 🫣), and among all the skills evaluated, my best performance was oral expression…yeah! 💃👏
But today?
I understand some words, but I feel I can’t say a single word! I can’t read a book in German, nor the newspaper, nor an Instagram post.
What went wrong?
I’ve thought about this question a lot —as a teacher, as a language coach, and as a mother of three trilingual young adults (I still want to say “children”… how are they 18 already? 🤯).
And I’ve come to a clear conclusion:
Reading is non-negotiable for beginner language learners.
I will dive into the details about how I reached this conclusion later.
As a mother of three trilingual children, I came to the same conclusión, but from another perspective.
I saw how differently their reading and communication skills developed across the three languages —Spanish, English, and Greek— just because of exposure to text. I will tell you all about it.
But for now, I want to be clear on one thing:
I don’t want this to be your story with Spanish.
I don’t want you to wake up one day and realize your Spanish is gone.
I don’t want you to regret the time, energy, and money you invested.
And I definitely don’t want you to forget a language you worked so hard to learn.
Actually, this personal experience —and others I had later in life—was one of the reasons I created Lee español ApasionadaMente (LEA), my Reading and Conversation Program for beginner Spanish learners.
Today, I want to share the stories that inspired this program, how it’s helping my students, and why I strongly believe that reading books is a non-negotiable for beginner Spanish learners.
Let's jump in!
The cognitive process that shapes our lives
Reading is an extraordinary process of the human brain. It shapes how we make sense of the world and how we think about it.
During my 20+ years in education, working with students of different ages and teaching different subjects, I’ve seen how reading has a great impact not only on their academic performance but also on their ability to think, express ideas, and communicate with confidence.
Whatever the learning subject is, one pattern keeps repeating itself:
Students with strong reading skills are better at:
Understanding instructions.
Processing information.
Making inferences.
Organizing their thoughts.
Expressing themselves both orally and in writing.
Over time, I also observed an important shift:
More and more students are finding it harder to concentrate and to truly understand what they are reading.
And this isn’t just affecting their grades. It´s affecting their confidence, their communication, and their ability to think deeply.
How we read and what we read shape our lives.
In many ways, we are what we read.
And when it comes to language learning, this becomes even more important.
Because if you don’t read a language, you can’t fully learn it.
The question that changed everything
If you are a beginner Spanish learner who isn’t reading yet, this might feel familiar:
Your vocabulary feels simple and limited.
You can manage basic everyday conversations, but you avoid anything written.
You don’t read books, newspapers, magazines, blogs, or social media posts.
You might even struggle to understand WhatsApp messages or Instagram posts
And when you need to use your Spanish for social interactions with native speakers, you run out of words. When you need to book an appointment, call the bank, or send an email, you depend on another person or on Google Translate.
That’s exactly why I love to work with beginner Spanish learners. Because I get to witness how reading comprehension literally changes their lives. I love to observe how reading makes a huge difference in their everyday interactions.
So, when they come to me with the question “What can I read in Spanish?” I invite them for a coffee and tell them what you will read today in this article. Because this is the question that completely changed my business two years ago.
My Personal Wake-Up Call
Going back to my German, I came to the following conclusion:
I never actually built strong reading skills in German.
I remember two years ago, going to my parents' house in Greece and going over all the books I have in my bookshelves. They are full of Greek, Spanish, and English literature.
I found only one book in German. A novel based on a movie script for the movie Stepmom (1998). If you are my age, you might remember this dramatic comedy with Julia Roberts, Susan Sarandon, and Ed Harris.
I don’t remember where I bought the book, but I do remember why I bought it. I really liked the movie, and I thought it would be easy to read it in German.
And guess what. I didn’t even finish the first chapter!
It’s been over twenty years now, but I still remember the feeling of failure, disappointment, and discouragement.
So, when I obtained my diploma, I stopped going to language school, and I never tried to read German again.
With English and Spanish, I had a very different experience.
After I stopped “studying” English and Spanish, I kept both languages strong.
Why?
Because I kept reading.
What My Children Taught Me
I had the privilege to teach my children to speak, read, and write in Greek.
They grew up in the Dominican Republic, and the only contact they had with the Greek language was through me.
I want to be very clear before you continue reading.
I’m veeeeeery proud of my children’s communication skills.
When we go to Greece, they can have regular conversations with natives, and people always make positive comments on how well they speak.
They acquired the language through everyday conversations and family life. And they did it without a Greek-speaking community around them.
And I confess that it was hard work, but it was worth all the effort.
If you are a parent of bilingual children, you can probably relate to this.
But over time, I started noticing something important.
As they entered adolescence, their relationship with the language changed.
Their vocabulary stayed within familiar, everyday topics.
They could have everyday conversations—but didn’t go much deeper.
And when it came to reading every year, the process became more difficult.
Not because they weren’t capable.
But because they didn’t have access to the right books.
The materials I had available for them at the time were school books written for native children who were daily exposed to Greek and practiced reading and writing in a formal environment.
So a gap was created between my children’s reading skills and the reading materials I provided them.
Reading became slow, effortful, and frustrating.
Instead of building confidence, it created resistance.
We shared unforgettable, cozy moments where I was reading out loud to them before going to bed —moments I will always cherish— but when it was their time to read, they struggled.
When they were 12, I decided it was time for me to take a break from the bedtime routine I had religiously followed until then.
Without regular reading, this is what happened quietly in the background:
Their vocabulary reached a standstill.
Their sentences had a very simple structure.
Their ability to express more nuanced ideas didn’t fully develop.
(You will only notice if you open a conversation about politics, social justice, or the global economy🙏)
This is a normal process for heritage speakers; the problem was that I wasn’t prepared for it.
Again, not because of a lack of ability, but because of a lack of exposure to more complex vocabulary and structures through reading.
As heritage speakers receive more and more formal education, the dominant language becomes stronger, and the home language gradually becomes weaker.
I now realize that was a turning point for their language development.
Exposure to oral language is not enough. Conversation is not enough.
Without reading, language growth becomes stagnant.
What if they had access to books they could truly understand?
Books that felt interesting, meaningful, and made for them?Books that could grow with them, step by step?
Books that made them love reading in Greek?
I truly believe their experience would have been different.
They would have built reading fluency gradually.
They would have expanded their vocabulary more naturally.
They would have developed a deeper relationship with the language.
And this realization became clearer when I discovered the comprehensible and compelling books I use with my adult students inside LEA.
Let me tell you this story:
The Moment Everything Changed
Two years ago, I discovered a handful of amazing books— carefully crafted by female Latin American authors who share authentic stories of their communities that highlight their values, beliefs, and culture.
Out of curiosity, I started reading them.
And I couldn’t stop.
They turned out to be the right books for my beginner learner: short, engaging, meaningful stories written with the novice reader in mind.
They were simple—but not simplistic. Easy to understand—but not boring. Accessible—but still emotionally engaging.
And the best part? The authentic stories sparked engaging, deep conversations.
For the first time, I saw what I had been missing all along.
These were the kinds of books I had needed when I was learning German.
These were the kinds of books my children had needed growing up.
Books that meet you where you are… and gently take you further.
I immediately started using them in my 1:1 language coaching sessions with notable results.
Students who used to hesitate… started participating. Students who said “I can’t speak”… started forming sentences. Students who had never read a full text in Spanish… started finishing books.
And something even more powerful happened.
They weren’t just understanding words.
They were expressing ideas.
Sharing opinions.
Making connections.
Having natural conversations—with very basic vocabulary.
Why do these books make such a difference?
It’s because beginner-friendly stories:
Let the most common Spanish expressions sink in naturally.
Offer gentle repetition that helps words stick.
Boost reading flow, and make you forget you are reading in a foreign language.
Bring words to life through a character’s journey instead of artificial sentences in boring textbooks.
And yes, with these books, my beginners can have deep conversations using basic vocabulary!
As a beginner, you don’t need to wait until you’re “ready” to read.
Reading comprehensible and compelling books is what makes you ready.
Experienced readers need books to speak better.
Beginner readers need books to start speaking.
These books have changed the way I approach language teaching completely.
I felt inspired by my student's progress. I attended conferences and joined courses about storytelling and Comprehensible Input (I love learning new things, and I’m always curious and open to methodologies that can make me a better teacher).
All these changes led me to create Lee español ApasionadaMente.
This program was created by a simple question one student had two years ago.
What can I read in Spanish?
I had some options in mind, but the books didn’t actually match her reading level.
So that’s when the research for the right books for her, which I mentioned earlier, started.
So, this reading program was not created because I woke one day with the idea.
This reading program was actually created because my students asked for it.
But LEA is not just a collection of books.
It’s a guided reading experience designed to turn beginners into confident readers and speakers.
What Makes This Program So Effective
Lee español ApasionadaMente is a carefully designed experience that supports you at every step.
📚 Hand-Picked, Comprehensible Books
You’ll read 12 carefully selected books written by Latin American women authors.
I personally reviewed many books—and only kept the ones that were truly engaging during the beta program.
These books are:
Easy to understand
Interesting and meaningful
Designed to help you progress step by step
They transform beginner readers into confident readers.
🎯 A carefully designed experience
You will:
Start reading from day one
Feel supported instead of overwhelmed
Build confidence step by step
And use reading as a bridge into speaking
This is a safe space for shared reading, natural conversations, and human connection.
Because learning a language is about communication, expressing ideas, sharing perspectives, and connecting with real people.
Yet for beginners, most of those spaces are out of reach.
Lee español ApasionadaMente is my way of changing that.
It’s the program I wish I had when I was learning German.
It’s the kind of support I wish my children had when they were growing up.
It’s a program that brings together beginner learners with the same needs and struggles.
It´s a program for you.
🌱 A Supportive Learning Space
Each book comes with guided support:
Spanish-English phrase dictionary for clarity
Comprehension questions to help you fully understand the story
Personal questions to connect the story to your life experiences
Reflection questions to help you think deeper
Plus:
Optional activities like worksheets, mind maps, and further reading
🗣️ Live Sessions That Bring Spanish to Life
Inside our live group calls, you will:
Listen to read-alouds to improve pronunciation and intonation
Practice reading aloud to build fluency
Join engaging conversations based on the stories
Even as a beginner, you’ll start expressing your deep ideas with simple words.
You’ll also have access to an online platform where:
You can continue discussions inside the forum
Stay consistent
Feel supported between sessions
Let me share with you what my students say about the program:
What My Students Are Experiencing
Here’s what LEA students are saying:
“Now I can read with confidence, speak, and share my opinion.” Zann
“Reading easy but interesting books is the best way to learn Spanish!” Cathy
“My vocabulary has improved significantly.” Aliki
“Reading books has made a big difference in my ability to speak and write.” John
“Now I feel more confident starting conversations in Spanish.” Adam
“I don´t only learn Spanish; I learn history, participate in deep conversations, reflect on social topics, and sometimes even question myself.” Delia
The future I want for my beginners (and for you!)
Even though screens and apps continue competing for our attention, the need for real connection is growing.
People seek meaningful conversations, want to feel part of a group, and book clubs are thriving.
But most of these spaces are not accessible to beginners.
That’s why I created this program.
My vision is to build a reading community where:
Beginners feel included
Novice readers gain confidence
And eventually feel they belong to Spanish-speaking communities.
But above all, I want them to have strong reading skills to keep their Spanish alive in the long run.
Becoming a passionate, competent, and confident Spanish reader will shape the way you think.
And how you live!
If you’re wondering where to start…
Book your free 1:1 exploration session with me.
In just 30 minutes, I’ll:
Assess your reading level
Recommend the right book for you
Answer all your questions
Help you feel clear and confident about your next step
👉Book your Free Exploration Session here
Thanks for reading,
Violeta
About the author
¡Hola! I'm Violeta Volioti, Language Coach, book lover, and reading advocate. Learning Spanish through powerful and engaging stories is one of the most effective, fun, and satisfying ways to learn. Reading is power, and in a world filled with people glued to their phones, reading is a rebel act.
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