Title:
WHEN TO TEACH L2 READING TO YOUNG LEARNERS: GENERAL GUIDELINES TO A SEQUENCE OF INSTRUCTION

Authors:
James R Brawn

Abstract:
This paper has two main aims. First, it will clarify some common misconceptions regarding the teaching of reading to young learners in a second language, and second, it will describe some general guidelines that can be followed when implementing a second language reading program. Because reading is a two-step process that involves decoding and then comprehension, second-language reading instruction should not begin until the learners have the appropriate foundation. This paper will describe that foundation in terms of when reading in a second language should begin, how to prepare young learners for the reading program, the importance of building lexical resources, balancing phonics and sight word instructions, and the value of using engaging and comprehensible texts.

Keywords:
young learners, second language reading, instruction sequence, phonics, sight words, reading comprehension, decoding

DOI:
https://doi.org/10.37500/IJESSR.2023.6210