Published online by Cambridge University Press: 10 November 2010
INTRODUCTION
Since the 1980s, a number of advances have been made in research on reading, both in first and second language contexts. Although the advances in first language contexts have led to a number of improvements in reading instruction, the corresponding research in second language contexts has not made as much headway. The reasons for these differences will be discussed in the form of dilemmas for second language reading instruction. By way of introduction to these dilemmas, research findings that have influenced L1 reading instruction are briefly reviewed, and the corresponding advances in second language research are noted. The larger discussion will then focus on the dilemmas that second language contexts impose on reading instruction and the possible responses to these dilemmas.
FIRST LANGUAGE READING RESEARCH AND INSTRUCTION
In first language settings, research has demonstrated at least ten major findings for reading instruction. These highlight the
importance of developing letter–sound correspondences for beginning reading
importance of word recognition and the relatively complete processing of words in a text
necessity for a large recognition vocabulary for fluent reading
need for reasonable reading rates for processing
usefulness of graphic representations for comprehension instruction
value of extensive reading
importance of dialogue and teacher modelling in comprehension instruction
facilitating role of Content-Based Instruction
need for students to become strategic readers
influence of varying social contexts on the development of reading abilities
Although documenting these general developments would require a separate paper, essential sources for these developments include Stanovich (1986, 1992), Adams (1989), Rayner and Pollatsek (1989), Barr, Kamil, Mosenthal, and Pearson (1991), Heath (1991), Palincsar and David (1991), Rieben and Perfetti (1991), Samuels and Farstrup (1992), Guzzetti, Snyder, Glass, and Gamas (1993), and Pressley et al.
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