lthough opinions differ about some aspects of instruction for ELLs, there is strong agreement among authorities regarding the importance of providing sufficient time for oral language development.
Some research indicates that it is more effective for ELLs’ first reading instruction to be in their native language, while other research indicates English-only immersion programs or structured immersion programs promote better reading progress. While educators often hold strong opinions on this issue, based on the presently available data, there is no clear answer as to which approach is best.
A serious concern for reading specialists is the letter-sound dissimilarity between English and other languages, leading ELLs to pronounce some printed words differently than a native English speaker even though they do recognize the word. It is important that this problem be addressed early in beginning reading instruction.
After ELLs advance beyond earliest reading levels, a highly recommended technique to accelerate both oral vocabulary and reading vocabulary is cognate matching.