Dual Language Readers

Benefits of Dual Language Readers

Reading a book requires a lot of skills. When you are first learning a language, trying to read a new book can be daunting.  You must know the meaning of the words, understand the context the words are being used in and follow the larger story that is being told.

Dual language (or bilingual) books make the reading process easier.  The English translation is there to support you.  Read the English story first so you are familiar with the story being told.  Check in with the English translation when you encounter unfamiliar word.  As your reading becomes more proficient, compare the two translations to see how grammar, phrases, and word construction come together.

10 Benefits of Dual Language Books

  1. Dual Language books promote an interest in reading by making reading more enjoyable and accessible

  2. Dual Language books support increased comprehension with confirmation of context

  3. Dual Language books accelerate learning vocabulary and sentence structure in the second language

  4. The more a person is able to enjoy reading the faster their literacy skills will develop

  5. Learners are able to more easily see similarities between words and compare/learn sentence structure

  6. Multiple texts allows the reader to more readily transfer literacy skills and concepts from one language to another

  7. Dual Language books provide the reader an opportunity to compare and contrast text, thereby noticing different features of each language.

  8. The new language is less intimidating when the known language is there for support.

  9. The reader begins to recognize the imperfections of literal translations and learns how each language uses a different expression to convey the same meaning.

  10. Dual Language books serve as a connecting bridge, helping the learner develop a deeper understanding of the new language and how to use it effectively.


References:

https://www.parentchildplus.org/bilingual-books-literacy/#:~:text=Encouraging%20literacy&text=Since%20bilingual%20books%20provide%20sentences,skills%20in%20a%20second%20language.

https://blog.languagelizard.com/2011/07/06/dual-language-books-benefit-bilingual-children/

https://imaginationsoup.net/4-ways-dual-language-books-can-boost-biliteracy/

https://ealjournal.org/2018/11/12/using-dual-language-story-books-to-foster-biliteracy/