Terry Said wrote:

> Extensive reading in class is a good way to get

> students to read since many of them do not have time

> outside of class.

>

> There are also some newspapers particularly made for

> students learning to read in English. One is News for

> You, and there is another one done by Elizabeth

> Claire. These newspapers have often been popular

> enough with my students, they will read them at home.

>

> I've also used the textbook series True Stories in the

> News. They now even have a Very Easy True Stories in

> the News for students who are just beginning literacy.

>

> One activity I don't recommend is reading in class

> much. There is no research to show this improves

> students' reading skills, but more importantly it is

> really boring for the rest of the students. Some

> students really like reading outloud, so occasionally

> I may have students do a short segment or a dialogue,

> but I usually avoid it unless students insist. Of

> course, if you're tutoring one on one it may work

> better, and be a starting point for other activities.

>

> Terry Pruett-Said

>

>

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>   

Hi all
Janet here from New Zealand. This online discussion is great!
I have often shyed away from students and oral reading fluency, but I 
have had some learners who have particularly wanted to develop that 
skill, including those who want to or are taking part in Bible study 
groups.
Maxine Burton with the NRDC in the UK has done some research "Oral 
Reading Fluency for Adults" that made me rethink about the positive 
effects that learners can gain from this process. The NRDC, in their 
"Practitioner Guides" have also suggested using oral reading as part of 
effective teaching of reading - I woudn't do it in isolation from other 
teaching reading processes. I have come across people who can read 
orally, fluently and flawlessly, but with little, or virtually no, 
comprehension. I have found this particuarly amongst learners from the 
Pacific Islands where reading is taught by rote learning.
I would also want to discuss whether to introduce oral reading with 
learners before introducing it.
I wonder if oral reading may be more  may effective as a teaching 
strategy with people who have oral history and story telling traditions?

-- 
Janet Coup
Ph: 09 627 0566
Mob: 021 340 666