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Drucker, MJ What Reading Teachers Should Know About ESL Learners (2003)
Drucker, MJ What Reading Teachers Should Know About ESL Learners (2003)
Drucker, MJ What Reading Teachers Should Know About ESL Learners (2003)
.
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Reading Teacher.
http://www.jstor.org
MARY J. DRUCKER
What
teachers
reading
ESL
about
According
to
Learners
(ELLs) who are learning
Language
new
These
and
write
in
their
read,
language.
speak,
that can
students offer a rich resource of diversity
same
At
the
enhance
classroom
time,
dynamics.
to classroom
teach
they present a special challenge
ers and reading specialists
alike. Out of nearly 3
school
teachers
million
by the
surveyed
public
National
Center
for Education
Statistics,
41% report
while
only
tend
readers in their first language
Accomplished
to use many of the same strategies
that successful
readers do?skimming,
native English-language
in
context, reading for the gist of a text?
guessing
they are reading in a second language. But it
to think that learning to read
would be a mistake
in a second language is simply a mapping
process
when
should
know
learners
of English
and continue by offering
sug
can
as
and
that
students
support
gestions
strategies
to
strive
skills.
The
they
acquire English-language
speakers
is not hierarchical.
presented
one
more
than the others,
may be
Any
important
on
I have in
the
circumstance.
depending
specific
order of the factors
a Table
that will
of using an ap
past. You may see the possibility
a
at
different
time
in
your lesson, or for
proach
levels than those that I sug
learners at different
gest. Feel free to adapt strategies for your particular
if your learners differ in age or need, as
they surely will.
note here. You may
Imust add one pedagogical
situation
of different
areas.
Conversational versus
academic proficiency
as a second
the playground,
on one. Itmight
22
2003
An English
er may
(pp. 22-29)
Strategy
Beginning
readers
When to implement
Advanced
readers
Transitional
readers
Before
reading
During
reading
After
reading
Previewing
Choral reading
Shared reading
Paired reading
Books with tapes
Multicultural literature
Language experience
Interactivewriting
Total physical response
Narrow reading
Read aloud
as a second
learning English
language becomes
fluent
researchers
But
have found
fully
quickly.
can develop peer-appropriate
that, although
skills in about two years, developing
conversational
can take much
academic
in English
proficiency
here refers to the
proficiency
to use language
for reading and
to acquire information
in content
speakers
for
English
speakers are not sitting around waiting
ESL students to catch up. They are continuing
to
1 year's progress
make
in 1 year's
time in their
and in every school
development
&
Thomas,
1999, p. 1). English
subject" (Collier
language learners have to gain more language pro
each year than their native-speaking
peers
ficiency
in order to catch up and close the gap.
English
the selec
they are about to read. Name
tion, introduce the characters, and describe the plot
the climax). Last, direct
(up to, but not including,
the section
language
meaning.
Academic
English
the students
information.
following
O. Henry:
"Now, read the story and find out why
Delia went into this shop, what she did there, and
what happened
later to the young couple on this
Christmas
has fewer
What
con
is previewing
technique
students read. Chen and Graves
(1998) provided a
for previewing
model
that can easily be used in
classrooms with ELLs. It is also an excellent
strat
it takes an English-language
learner as long as five to seven years to perform as
as native English-speaking
well academically
peers
and ELLs
by providing
lag occurs
can help
ELLs
longer. Academic
ability not only
cues. You
contextual
reading
Eve"
(p. 571).
so much preparation prior to reading
Providing
is one way to ensure that students are receiving
teachers
should
know
about ESL
learners
23
1981). Compre
comprehensible
input (Krashen,
hensible
that
input is spoken or written
language
at a level the child can understand. At
is delivered
the same time, the level should be enough of a chal
lenge that the child needs to stretch just a bit above
his or her current abilities.
Krashen
portant
McCauley
choral
reading
andMcCauley
as a means
hensible
called
"I" standing
this im
for input.
(1992) suggested
of providing
students. Choral
compre
reading
of a poem or short text,
and gestures that help the chil
involves
ic gestures
and motions
clues
provide contextual
about the poem's meaning.
Choral reading is ap
in
for
students
through sixth
propriate
kindergarten
For
grade.
choral
or first grade,
in kindergarten
can be enhanced
through the use of
students
reading
rebus symbols.
versus
spondences)
sound-letter
regular
shallow
ones
(having mainly
correspondences)
might cause
some
for
readers of English
nonnative
difficulty
of dyslexia
in Italy is about half that
States. Beginning
with the accepted
that there was a causal link between
various
be less affected
ia, in effect,
languages
may be aggravated.
Shared
resentation
Ehri
spoken.
sounds
heard
and Wilce
when
is
language
native
separated
(1985)
into groups ac
kindergartners
English-speaking
to their ability to read words. Prereaders
cording
had not yet learned to read at all; two other groups
had learned
ferent words.
words with
to sounds and vi
that corresponded
spellings
that did not
sually distinctive words with spellings
fied
more
correspondence.
Researchers
between
tures
24
reading
provides
English-language
an opportunity
to hear language while
its corresponding
repre
observing
phonological
sentation. McCarrier,
and Fountas
Pinnell,
(2000)
defined
shared reading as "you and your students
together from a single, enlarged text" (p.
read[ing]
the writing
should be large enough
18). Naturally,
to be seen from a distance,
and the text should be
so
in
that
it
is
clear
view of all of the
positioned
children. Aside
from its obvious
support for learn
ers of English
who need help in word-by-word
shared reading also helps children learn
matching,
(McCarrier et al.). This
left-to-right
directionality
may
extra dividends
give
for ELLs
whose
native
el is a critical
languages
(having many
The Reading
learners with
also noted
with
deep
irregular
Teacher
was
that differences
orthographic
sound-letter
struc
corre
also useful
fluently
"skilled
September
in helping
ESL
students
read more
2003
while
the language
learner read along. The lan
learner then reread the same text aloud. The
guage
researchers
effective
found
intervention
an
that paired
reading was
that improved
the students'
fluency
ciation.
who
(2002): "It was the day of the big party. Mary won
dered if Johnny would
like a kite. She ran to her
bedroom, picked up her piggy bank, and shook it.
There was no sound" (p. 6). Eskey asked us to con
sider a series of questions
when
In general,
in
and task follow-through.
students
can
3
8
successfully.
grades
through
pair-read
students require more structure.
Younger
Studies
found
of
learning-disabled
that children benefit from
and reading
listening
& Humphreys,
(1990)
fective
students
found
stories
in improving
reading fluency.
(1996) noted that audiobooks
and Harris
means
for engaging
ated to print"
youngsters
ifMary
Casbergue
a
how
Books
literacy practices
left to right, and mak
between words and il
can
The
be
recorded
es the schema
United
listening
Schema
Other
background
knowledge
& Eisterhold,
1983). In other words,
sion requires more
than linguistic
party in the
be answered
A native
information.
students: 28 Muslim
Arabs
of cul
studied
and 24 Catholic
orientation.
students
better
The
researcher
ferent kinds
culture,
migrant
(Carrell
knowledge.
reading
found
that the
remembered
and comprehended
to their native cultures.
similar
literate
in Dutch
both as a first
The
children
graders becoming
and second language.
comprehen
What
birthday
cannot
the importance
and schema. Carrell (1987)
a
that comprehending
theory holds
an interaction
between
the reader's
this exercise
tural differences
52 ESL
to the story.
The questions
this specific cultural
of a child's
States.
without
with
posed can be an
swered by directly searching the text, as long as the
struc
reader knows
the vocabulary
and English
are
tures. The second five questions,
far
however,
more difficult to answer unless the reader possess
tapes
by
teacher or by other students in the class. Providing
to books and corresponding
exposure
tapes gives
an
to
learners
language
opportunity
simultaneously
along with
bank; and
was.
big problem
the
to the party;
is related
what Mary's
as learn basic
turning, tracking
connections
ing meaningful
lustrations.
the kite
in the text;
and Johnny
why Mary
(p. 4).
of English
like page
of would;
in
the sound/symbol
ing disabled,
correspondence
these studies
is interesting.
Consider
providing
ELLs with books and corresponding
audiotapes.
or
ef
"provide
are not habitu
who
present,
wondered;
the meaning
(Conte
reading was
while
what Mary
have
that listening
the reading:
future;
the simultaneous
of audiotaped
about
of texts:
texts
that referred
to the cultures
to Dutch
of the im
prising
had better reading comprehension
and reading effi
were
ciency with texts that
culturally familiar.
teachers
should
know
about ESL
learners
29
Illustrations
are especially
language
be able to relate more easily
Students
will
helpful.
to books
children
different
friends because
of the
her mother
enjoys,
as a
result.
Another
Stories
should be appealing.
more
native
Spanish
speakers
the meanings
that makes
way
share the context
is through
indi
that students
fully
they are reading
the Language
successful
with
in grades
1 through 3.
LEA involves having students tell the story of an
they have had. The teacher acts as
experience
scribe, writing down the words so that the students
students
be summed
up in these
lines:
that much
accessible.
Multicultural
to the classroom
is a positive
addition
for all students in all grades, from
ture which
those many
increasingly
for books to reflect
students.
ticultural
the cultural
of all
backgrounds
has culled information
Shioshita
from several
(1997)
sources on how
literature
Books
Interactive
literature
speakers
through high school. Native
kindergarten
of English
"need to be familiar with quality litera
which
and contain
Books
should
not reinforce
The Reading
reflect
Teacher
instructional
needs.
but
of
Interactive
grades,
children
current
stereotypes,
the experiences
writing
share
In interac
that grows from their own experiences.
tive writing,
the teacher and the children negotiate
the meaning
of the text together and work together
should be accurate
children
also allows
information.
26
of the material
depict
Experience
Approach
learners of all ages
(LEA; Rigg,
1981). Language
enjoy this approach, but in a classroom
containing
more
native English
LEA
is
speakers
generally
a cul
with
to be certain
Another
realistically
ethnicities.
of different
the cultural
in their native
should
viduals
September
writing
generally
has been
successful
first through
2003
third.
in the early
Vocabulary
On a very basic level, vocabulary
is critical to
the reading process. Fluent first-language
readers
There have
have large recognition
vocabularies.
been numerous
studies
actual number
of words
need
to quantify
the
readers
second-language
attempting
a text. It is not
in order to comprehend
that some researchers
have found that
to know
surprising
& P. Herman
(as cited
of vocabulary
In addition, many
teaching
approaches
ESL learners. Freeman
that although
ELLs
and Freeman
enjoy
(2000)
noted
exercises,
vocabulary
in context. According
Given
a separate
glossary,
when
to Yeung
readers
(1999),
encounter
students with
or
exercises
preteaching
vocabulary
a
creates
load
that
the
glossaries
cognitive
splits
learner's attention. He found that when definitions
are placed next to the challenging
lexical items,
better
the cognitive
load is lowered.
is "built
and action;
speech
of a language
as total physical
teaching
response
the coordination
of
around
to teach
it attempts
language
to support vocabulary
way
development.
reading
method
vo
for developing
learners read authen
topic in a number of
texts.
different
By doing this, students are exposed
to a common body of vocabulary.
In this way, these
words are recycled and ultimately
integrated with
the learner's
ment
learner must
our stu
Although we cannot edit the materials
dents use so that vocabulary
are inte
definitions
the text, it is possible
to encourage
grated with
to write word meanings
on labels that are
or as near the challenging
in the margins
placed
item as possible. This may help to reduce the cog
nitive load and enhance
vocabulary
acquisition.
reading
encounter
There
vocabulary.
the number
about
of times
a new
lexical
term before
it
is actually
learned, but Zahar, Cobb, and Spada
6 and
(2001) found that estimates
range between
on the context in which expo
20 times, depending
sure to the word occurs. Depending
on the materials
available,
What
known
methodology
(TPR). TPR
students
is reminiscent
approach
effective
students were
ceptive
an un
that elemen
engaged
hearsal,
item by item.
of the standard vocabulary
have been ineffective
with
who
amount
She found
acquisition.
students
school
through high
kinds
port vocabulary
Collect
topic
of narrow-reading
to sup
acquisition.
newspaper
for students
teachers
activities
should
know
on a continuing
to read. Be certain each
stories
appeal
to them.
about ESL
learners
27
on sub
to bring in magazines
jects they like. Have them read several arti
cles from the magazines.
Ask
Use
students
on almost
texts available
books
Assign
students
novel
tends to recycle.
by a single
author.
Finally,
read-alouds
Freeman
which
The
tended
to read. The vo
issues
the power
of
scores
times a day for a week. Group vocabulary
rose by 40%. "The key was finding
interesting
books and coaching
teachers to use reading tech
to pictures, gesturing,
and
niques such as pointing
be sure students
paraphrasing...to
understood
the
In classrooms
diverse,
increasingly
teaching is an important
rele
instruction. Culturally
is "the kind of teaching
that is de
relevant
culturally
of literacy
component
vant
teaching
to fit the school culture to the
signed not merely
students' culture but also to use student culture as the
basis
for helping
students
and others, structure social
understand
themselves
collection
of strategies
help English-language
stream classrooms.
and approaches
learners succeed
that will
in main
The environment
in which
as
as the
at
is
learn
and
least
important
study
and
methods,
you may
strategies,
approaches
a culturally
to employ. Using
relevant
choose
means
that students' second lan
teaching approach
ELLs
to the class
guages can be viewed as an additive
room environment,
that
rather than as a deficit
that academic
lan
needs to be remedied. Realize
in a second
proficiency
long time to develop. To facilitate
to use their native
mit students
guage
(Nichols,
necessary
Rupley,
needs
2000). The classroom
28
The Reading
Teacher
takes a
language
that process, per
when
languages
& Webb-Johnson,
to be a validating
Williams
"Would
I want
(2001)
to be a
(p. 754).
in this article
are not in
strategies
to be prescriptive
solutions
for particular
in literacy development.
They are a few of
listed
speakers,
"Second
is
2001, p. 751). There
(Williams,
to
like
"Read
promote
nothing
reading
reading.
aloud to students every day. This practice supports
well as literacy devel
language development...as
ciency
students.
do not underestimate
for all
suggested
asking yourself,
student inmy classroom?"
of
variety
any topic.
in any given
cabulary
Have
is a wide
the Internet?there
environment
(p. 751).
opment"
to
Finally, give students plenty of opportunities
to
to
read independently.
learn
and
read,
"People
read better,
2002,
p. 8).
by reading"
(Eskey,
Students
learn to read well when they are engaged
in reading materials
that are not only at an appro
to
and relevant
but
also
level
priate
interesting
them.
USA).
E-mail mdrucker@utica.edu.
References
Bell, T. (1998, December). Extensive reading:Why? And how?
The Internet TESOLJournal, /1/(12).Retrieved March 7,2001,
from http://www.aitech.ac.ip/~itesli/Articles/Bell-Readinq.
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Cantoni-Harvey, G. (1992). Facilitating the reading process. In
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September
2003
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R., Nation,
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How
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29