Phonics
Phonics can be problematic because ELLs often have difficulty discriminating between similar
Phonics can be problematic because ELLs often have difficulty discriminating between similar
sounds, and because the English language does not have a regular system of correspondence
between letters and sounds. Here are some issues related to phonics instruction for ELLs, with
discussion of their implications:
Systematic phonics instruction can be very effective in helping ELLs, even those at fairly low
levels of language proficiency, learn to decode words. However, this skill does not facilitate
reading comprehension if students' oral language proficiency is not developed to the level of the
texts they are expected to read. For this reason, reading instruction should be combined with
intensive development of the oral language needed to understand the text.
The most effective reading programs for ELLs combine systematic phonics instruction with a
print-rich environment that provides exposure to appealing reading materials in varied genres.
Skills practice that is embedded in meaningful texts helps ensure that decoding skills don't
progress beyond students' ability to comprehend the text.
Many of the components of phonics instruction need to be modified to meet the particular needs
of ELLs. For example: Before phonics instruction begins, students must have the phonemic awareness skills they
need in order to perceive individual sounds in words. This is particularly important for sounds
that are problematic because of the native language.
Teachers must be aware of whether a students' native language uses a non-Roman alphabet
or is non-alphabetic. Even if ELLs have had no instruction in reading in the native language,
environmental exposure to a different writing system can negatively affect the ease with
which they learn to recognize the letters of the English alphabet.
ELLs must be able to hear and reproduce English sounds with a degree of accuracy
commensurate with their pronunciation abilities, before they are taught to make associations
between those sounds and particular letters.
It is helpful to explicitly point out different letter combinations that have the same sound,
and provide extra practice with them. Multiple spellings of the same sound can be very
confusing for ELLs, particularly if they have had some reading instruction in a language such
as Spanish, which has almost completely regular sound-symbol correspondences.
Teachers must pay attention to the meanings of the words used to teach phonics skills.
Teaching students to decode words they don't know only reinforces the idea that "reading" is
pronouncing sounds out loud rather than creating meaning.
Automatic recognition of frequent words is very important for ELLs, whether the words follow
phonics rules or not. Although ELLs may develop good decoding skills, their lack of total
proficiency in the English language will always slow them down somewhat. Automatic
recognition of words can help mitigate this difficulty.
Most ELLs will need additional time to master phonics. Given the need for extra practice to learn
to hear and produce the sounds of English, to learn the meanings of the words used in phonics
instruction, to learn the multiple combinations of letters that make the same sound, and to learn
many more sight words than English speakers need, additional time for phonics instruction
should be built into reading programs for ELLs.