I can read Kannada, but I cannot understand what I am reading!?

I have taken in Interest in gaining literacy in the Kannada language and in order to do so, I have memorized the alphabets and can confidently recognize the letters and put it together to form a word. Now my spoken Kannada is workable to say the least, I am a foreigner of Kannada stock. However, what ever Kannada literature I am reading, whether it is the KRV or other news papers, I cannot make head of tail of what is written. Why is spoken Kannada so different to what is written and how can I understand what I am reading? It is like I can read Italian, but only because the script is the same as English. Are there Kannadigas out there who can help me become literate in Kannada? Please help me, PLEASE!