3/26/2023
How the Science of Reading Works for English Learners
In 2019, an average of 10% of students in the United States were Emergent Bilinguals—this number has been steadily increasing during the past decade, and will likely continue to do so. This means at least one in 10 students in any given classroom do not speak English as their first language. While this might be intimidating to monolingual teachers, plenty of research has shown the benefits of the bilingual and bi-literate brain, revealing that “language in literacy development in one language enhances and supports language and literacy development in a new language.” This means, as educators, we should be embracing the unique capabilities of the bilingual brain when it comes to literacy acquisition.
To support Emergent Bilingual students and help them reach their full potential, teachers must implement research-backed reading programs into their curriculum. The science of reading is a large body of research backed by decades worth of multidisciplinary studies that show how the human brain learns to read. In teaching Emergent Bilingual students, implementing practices based on the science of reading is essential to their success.
Evidence-Based Support for Emergent Bilingual Literacy Success
According to the National Committee for Effective Literacy (NCEL), a large number of Emergent Bilingual students need “effective literacy instruction that is comprehensive, flexible, research-based, and targeted for them.” Along with providing students with literacy education based on the science of reading components, studies have shown that Emergent Bilingual students benefit greatly from being enrolled in bilingual and dual-language programs.
The Continua of Biliteracy advocates for holistic learning opportunities for multilingual learners, emphasizing the importance of expansive, inclusive, and evidence-based opportunities for students to establish multilingualism. Research shows that young bilingual students are greatly impacted by whether or not a school recognizes and welcomes their multilingual capabilities. It has also been shown that students who are given the opportunity to develop their bilingualism (as opposed to being solely educated in English) enjoy more cohesive family relations, a higher likelihood of attending a four-year college, a lower likelihood of dropping out of high school, and healthier bicultural identities.
The best way to empower multilingual learners is to recognize, honor, and leverage their dual-language brains by providing them with individualized, evidence-based instruction. The NCEL emphasizes that “bilingual teaching is not repeating the same thing in two languages; rather, bi-literate pedagogies provide intentional opportunities for students to make cross-language and cross-cultural connections.”
Some examples of effective dual-language literacy instruction include these characteristics:
- Active engagement in language production (presentational and interpersonal speaking, writing) in both languages
- Strategically coordinated and aligned literacy instruction in both languages—with a scope and sequence authentic to each language
- Use of both languages for meaningful interaction and academic study
- An affirming climate for linguistic and cultural diversity
- Cross-language connections that build a metalinguistic understanding of how language works across language systems
- Integration of content with language and literacy development, using content as a bridge across languages
Along with the integration of multiple languages in Emergent Bilinguals’ educations, research has also shown these students tend to find success in literacy when their language comprehension skills are established (oracy, phonemic awareness, etc.).
What is Reading Comprehension and How Does it Help Multilingual Learners?
According to the Simple View of Reading, reading comprehension is comprised of two components: language comprehension and word recognition. In the Simple View of Reading, these two components are multiplied together to determine a student’s reading comprehension abilities. Further breaking down the Simple View of Reading, Scarborough’s Reading Rope is a graphic that shows all the different sub-components that are involved in developing literacy skills.
Research has shown that, for Emergent Bilingual students specifically, focusing too heavily on sounding-out words and practicing phonics is an inadequate way to help students develop their English literacy skills. Instead, educators must take a comprehensive approach to literacy development. This means all five pillars of literacy (phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension) must be integrated and scaffolded in an individualized way. The NCEL states that these programs would ideally “leverage skills and knowledge of the home language through opportunities for cross-language connections.”
One large-scale study determined comprehension is the primary goal of learning to read, and this required much more than simple phonics and phonemic awareness—especially in the case of Emergent Bilingual students. One of the best ways to help Emergent Bilingual students succeed is by building off their background knowledge. This means educators must make the effort to individualize instruction and work with students’ home language and cultural practices.
Along with background knowledge, oral language and writing are two critical components of literacy acquisition. As multilingual students learn to speak a new language, they are simultaneously internalizing vocabulary and building phonemic awareness. As they practice writing in this new language, they work on bridging the gap between reading and oral language. Once again, the multilingual brain should be celebrated for all its unique strengths, which include practicing both English and the student’s home language simultaneously.
How to Teach Multilingual Students as a Monolingual Teacher
It can be intimidating as a monolingual teacher to be responsible for Emergent Bilingual students, especially given how important it is to provide these students with practice in multiple languages. Thankfully there is a multitude of strategies educators can implement, even when they only speak one language, as outlined in this journal.
It is first important that teachers understand the power of the bilingual brain. Research has shown that when teachers are provided with professional development, they are more likely to understand the benefits of bilingualism and implement teaching strategies to support Emergent Bilingual students. These strategies are ideally promoting reading, writing, and speaking in two languages.
One way of promoting bilingualism as a monolingual teacher is by first providing students with high-quality bilingual books. These can be incorporated into existing literacy activities, such as book reports given in two languages. The student might present a book report in English to their class, and then present it in their home language to their parents. Another technique is getting paraprofessionals, college students, and/or community members who speak the students’ language involved with the class.
Care must be taken to educate teachers on the benefits of the bilingual brain to ensure they feel prepared to implement these techniques in their own classrooms. In understanding and individuating instruction for Emergent Bilingual students, educators can ensure all students find success on their journey toward literacy.
The Science of Reading and Emergent Bilingual Students
When teaching Emergent Bilingual students, it is imperative educators have a firm grasp of the science behind how they learn to read. By implementing evidence-based practices in their curriculum, teachers are able to help all of their students develop strong reading skills. Emergent Bilingual students in particular benefit from educators taking a Structured Literacy approach that implements scaffolded lessons and integration of their home language. To learn more about improving equity in education, take a look at this Education Insight covering what administrators and educators should consider and how edtech can support both literacy learning and equity initiatives.
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