A friend recently introduced me to the ideas of Stephen Krashen, a linguist, researcher and prolific writer. One of Krashen’s (2013) ideas about second language acquisition is called the “Comprehension Hypothesis,” in which “we acquire language when we understand messages” through “comprehensible input” (p. 3).

So, what is comprehensible input? It is reading or listening that is at the right level for you. According to Krashen (2013), this means input that is at the i+1 level (p. 3). In other words, a little beyond your current level.

Great! I love reading!

The problem is that it is sometimes difficult to find Greek Language reading material at just the right level that is also interesting and engaging.

One place to start is with leveled readers. Leveled readers are written with the language learner in mind and include carefully chosen vocabulary and grammatical structures. These are some of the leveled readers that I have used:

Starting with a leveled reader can help you avoid the frustration that comes with reading a text that is too difficult. Ideally, what ever you choose to read will have some words that are new to you, but not so many that it becomes incomprehensible.

Which one is right for you? It depends.

What is your level? If you are at an upper beginner level or a lower intermediate level, then try the Adventure in Greece series or the Short Stories in Greek. If you are at an intermediate to advanced level, the Routledge book is a good choice.

What features do you want? The Adventure in Greece series offers parallel Greek-English text, while the other two offer vocabulary lists, as well as exercises that accompany each section.

What kind of story interests you? The Routledge Modern Greek Reader introduces a variety of Greek folktales, while the other two have a contemporary setting.

Have you tried a leveled reader? Leave a comment below.

Krashen, S. (2013). Second Language Acquisition: Theory, Applications and Some Conjectures. Cambridge, UK; Cambridge University Press.