Why Reading Is So Hard for International Students and What Actually Helps

Reading academic texts shouldn’t feel like a constant battle - but for many international students, it does. Between translating unfamiliar words, losing focus, and re-reading the same sentence five times, it’s easy to feel stuck and unproductive. This blog breaks down why reading in a second language is so hard, and offers practical tips to make it easier.

Difficulties faced by International Students

If you're an international student, you already know that studying in your second language is like running a race with a weight strapped to your back. You open your reading assignment: a research paper, a textbook chapter, or even an article, and suddenly the problems stack up:

1. You pause. Translate. Repeat.

Every few sentences, you have to look up a word. A phrase doesn’t make sense. You open a translation app or ask ChatGPT to summarize. It helps… a little. But the constant switching breaks your focus. By the time you’re back in the text, you’ve forgotten what you just read.

2. You re-read again and again.

Even when you finish the whole thing, it feels like nothing stuck. You remember the general topic, but the important details? Gone. So you go back to the beginning. Again. And again.

3. You start reading later, and it takes longer.

Knowing that reading takes more energy, you procrastinate. You spend an hour reading something that native speakers can do in 20 minutes. It drains your study time and your motivation.

Why This Happens

Studying in a second language isn't just about knowing vocabulary. It’s about processing speed, memory, and mental load. When your brain is juggling translation, interpretation, and academic content at the same time, something’s got to give.

Some common pain points:

• Academic language is harder than everyday English. Even fluent speakers struggle with journal articles.

• Sentence structure in English may be unfamiliar. Your native grammar patterns don’t always match, making comprehension slower.

• You can’t skim effectively. Native speakers often skim and still get the gist. You read everything word by word.

• Reading takes so much effort, and you forget what you just read.

• You lose confidence. You may feel “behind” your peers, even when you're just working twice as hard.

What You - International Students - Can Do

Let’s break this down into practical actions - small changes that can make a big difference.

🧠 Mindset tips:

• Stop translating word-for-word. Try to grasp the meaning of the sentence, not the definition of each word.

• Read with a goal. Are you reading to understand a concept, find data, or prepare for a discussion? Clarify your goal first.

• Don’t chase perfection. You don’t need to understand every single sentence. Aim for 80% comprehension - enough to get the core ideas.

⚙️ Smart strategies:

• Pre-read: Skim headings and the intro/summary before diving in.

• Highlight only key ideas. Don't highlight every unknown word.

• Summarize after reading a paragraph. Use your own words - it helps lock in memory.

How Tools Like Teggl Can Help

Even with smart strategies, reading in a second language can still feel like a mental marathon. That’s where Teggl comes in - a tool designed to reduce friction, improve focus, and help you understand what you’re reading.

Here’s how Teggl supports international students:

🌍 In-Text Translation - No More Tab Switching

Teggl lets you translate words or sentences right inside the text. No need to break your flow by copy-pasting into Google Translate. You stay focused and in context, while still getting the help you need.

Teggl's Immersive Reading with Inline Translation, Text-to-Speech, Word-form Marking, and Line Focus

🧠 Word-Form Marking - Understand Grammar in Action

Teggl highlights verb forms, prepositions, and other grammatical structures to help you learn how English works, while you read. You build language intuition without needing a grammar book on the side.

🔊 Read-Along with Text-to-Speech

Listening while reading helps with both comprehension and memory. Teggl reads aloud in natural, clear voices, so you can follow along, improve pronunciation, and reinforce understanding.

🧘‍♀️ Focus Mode - Block Out the Noise

Teggl offers a distraction-free reading mode that strips away ads, sidebars, and clutter. You can even enable line focus to highlight only the current sentence or paragraph, perfect for long or dense texts.

Teggl's Distraction-free Reading Mode

🎛 Personalized Reading Settings - Built for Your Brain

Whether you need bigger fonts, different spacing, or a specific color theme to stay focused, Teggl adapts to your preferences. It helps your eyes and mind stay engaged longer - especially during heavy study sessions.

Teggl enables you to create your own personalized text settings for reading comfort

Reading Shouldn’t Be a Struggle

International students work harder than most - not just to learn, but to learn in a second language. Teggl is here to make that process smoother, faster, and less frustrating.

Read smarter. Focus better. Understand more - with Teggl.

Try it today and feel the difference in your next study session.

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