Reading in Second Languages
William B. Fischer • 23 February 2006
Selected Sources
ACTFL Proficiency Guidelines for reading
European Union “Europass Language Passport”
Portland Public Schools Second Language Standards
Barnett, Marva A. “How receptive to New Ideas Are We? Reading and Listening Proficiency.” ADFL
Bulletin 19.2 (January 1988): 29-32.
Donato,, Ricahrd, and Frank B. Brooks. “Literary Discussions and Advanced Speaking Functions:
Researching the (Dis)Connection.” Foreign Language Annals 37.2 (Summer 2004): 183-199.
Krueger, Merle, and Frank Ryan, eds. Language and Content: Discipline- and Content-Based
Approaches to Language Study. Lexington, MA: Heath, ??
Levine, Glenn S. “Global Simulation: A student-Centered, Task-Based Format for Intermediate
Foreign Language Courses.” Foreign Language Annals 37.1 (Spring 2004): 26-36.
Mandell, Paul B. “On the Background and Motivation of Students in a Beginning Spanish Program.”
Foreign Language Annals 35.5 (September/October 2002): 530-542.
Nell, Victor. Lost in a Book: The Psychology of Reading for Pleasure. New Haven: Yale, 1988.
Ryan-Scheutz, Colleen, and Laura M. Colangelo. “Full-Scale theater Production and Foreign
Language Learning.” Foreign Language Annals 37.3 (Fall 2004): 374-84.
Swaffar, Janet King. [various articles]
Issues
• the traditional (=Latin-inspired FGSR) curriculum: what have we given them and expected of them?
• implications of the ACTFL Guidelines (top-down and bottom-up)
• how “real” reading takes place
• our clients (not just the learners!): their motivations, characteristics, and capabilities
• changes in media and text sources
Approaches
• generic (genre-independent) – processes and activities
• discussion of literary texts within a single class period
• group-processing a literary text in a multi-hour project
• production of a drama as a major group project and culminating presentation
Assessment
• quantified reading comprehension test, machine graded
• transcribe handwritten text (paired with writing test)
• contextual translation of brief authentic source (paired with writing test)
• paraphrase of extended authentic text (paired with writing test)
• evaluation within larger context: the group project with culminating presentation