Return-Path: <nifl-esl@literacy.nifl.gov> Received: from literacy (localhost [127.0.0.1]) by literacy.nifl.gov (8.10.2/8.10.2) with SMTP id j0QIxBn25622; Wed, 26 Jan 2005 13:59:12 -0500 (EST) Date: Wed, 26 Jan 2005 13:59:12 -0500 (EST) Message-Id: <300BEB3101730B459922DE1D3B4AED890157006F@hobbes2.cal.org> Errors-To: listowner@literacy.nifl.gov Reply-To: nifl-esl@literacy.nifl.gov Originator: nifl-esl@literacy.nifl.gov Sender: nifl-esl@literacy.nifl.gov Precedence: bulk From: "Miriam Burt" <miriam@cal.org> To: Multiple recipients of list <nifl-esl@literacy.nifl.gov> Subject: [NIFL-ESL:10686] Re: readability software X-Listprocessor-Version: 6.0c -- ListProcessor by Anastasios Kotsikonas Content-Transfer-Encoding: 8bit Content-Type: text/plain; Status: O Content-Length: 2278 Lines: 68 Hi everyone: As Sue Sandeen wrote: "Readibility formulas were developed for use with native speakers and can be VERY misleading if used to evaluate the accessiblity of texts for English language learners." That is true. Why? 1. Grade level equivalents are not useful for adult learners, especially non-native speakers (as Terrence Kelley wrote) 2. Although the English vocabulary of the native speaker is generally much larger than that of the non-native speaker, several other issues come to play that are inadequately addressed in readability scales including for example: Non-native speaker may in fact, be more familiar with longer, multi- syllabic English words than with short, more germanic household-type words. This is particularly if the students come from Latin-based language backgrounds like Spanish and French (where many of these longer Engish words may have cognates) Adult English language learners, especially those who have a high level of education and training in the native language, may have a relatively large English vocabulary bank in their field, which assists them in readings related to their field English syntax and word order (as seen in passive constructions, for example) may make a reading much more complicated for the non-native speaker than the native speaker. So I would be cautious, as Sue says, when using readability scales with adult English language learners! Miriam ********* Miriam Burt Center for Adult English Language Acquisition (CAELA) Center for Applied Linguistics 4646 40th Street NW Washington, DC 20016 (202) 362-0700 (202) 363-7204 (fax) miriam@cal.org -----Original Message----- From: nifl-esl@nifl.gov [mailto:nifl-esl@nifl.gov] On Behalf Of Sandees32605@aol.com Sent: Tuesday, January 25, 2005 7:30 PM To: Multiple recipients of list Subject: [NIFL-ESL:10683] Re: readability software In a message dated 1/25/05 3:42:06 PM, drsgray@mo-net.com writes: << alternate readability software >> I have no answer to that question but a word of caution. Readibility formulas were developed for use with native speakers and can be VERY misleading if used to evaluate the accessiblity of texts for English language learners. Sue Sandeen ESOL - Gainesville, FL USA sandees32605@aol.com
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