The benefits of shared reading in promoting second language skills

Abstract

The aim of this research was to investigate and assess the benefits of a shared reading programme implemented with a Year 3 class to promote second language skills. The study was carried with twenty-two children attending a state primary school in the centre of Malta. The programme was carried over a whole scholastic year between October 2003 and June 2004, where fortnightly shared reading sessions with pre-, during and post-reading activities were given which were integrated with the current syllabus taught. The children were assessed at the beginning and end of the academic year for reading accuracy and comprehension skills by the Macmillian 's Individual Reading Analysis and the Sentence Comprehension Test. Interviews and questionnaires were carried with the classroom teacher, parents and children to provide information about attitudes and perceptions of second language learning and reading as well as the effects such a programme had on the children. Results indicated that the shared reading programme helped children to foster a love for reading while fostering positive attitudes towards language learning.