3 Year Process for English Fluency | Reading Comprehension Stories

Throughout my teaching experiences in China, I have focused on teaching children between the ages of 3-8. I have focused on this age level for several reasons, but for the most part, I just like teaching the young ones. Here is an example of a three year outline I have used when teaching my students starting in kindergarten or early grade school.

When I teach a new student I focus on the following over the first six months.

- fluent English reading skill
- reading comprehension

In my experience, most children will attain an American grade two reading level by the end of six months with a reading comprehension level at about their age level. These two metrics do not work at the same speed because reading is largely a mechanical skill, while comprehension requires much more time to figure out the logic, understanding and pattern of the language. After six months I expect a child to understand what he reads, but unable to express himself using English. To attain these two objectives I use some leveled reading books and phonics materials. The phonics are designed to help the children with the reading skill, while the leveled readers help them to understand what they are reading.

The following six months will be focused on the following.

- maintaining his fluent English reading ability
- continue to challenge his reading comprehension
- learning new vocabulary and usage

At this point you will see a dramatic increase in a students speaking ability as he learns to use new vocabulary. Rather than focusing on sentence patterns like oral English teaching programs, the student will learn new vocabulary and how to use them in unique sentences. As the student learns the sentences will get more and more complicated. At the same time, the student will get a good sense for the grammar of the language without ever actually having a grammar lesson.

At this stage I continue to use leveled readers, frequently review the previous phonics materials and introduce some fun stories (like DR Seuss). From the materials I will take out some frequently used vocabulary and have the students make unique sentences with them. After class they will receive these practice sentences for at home review. After one year to one and a half years of learning (depending on the students review/practice habit at home), you can expect that he has a very good grasp the English language. When he goes on to learn in primary school, he will be one of the top students in his class.

After two years of learning, he will be learning the following

- continued reading comprehension at an American grade 3 level (Chapter books at about 200 pages length)
- continued vocabulary learning and usage
- fluent writing ability

After learning for about three years, you can expect the student will be number one in his class with complete English fluency in reading, writing and speaking. His English level will challenge that of his English teachers at his primary school as my current students are doing now! At this step I use chapter books leveled for different grade levels. I have the students answer reading comprehension worksheets from the stories they read, and also continue to work with vocabulary usage. I hope that this has been helpful to anyone interested in teaching English in China.