Diane August|David Francis|Han?Ya Annie Hsu|Catherine E. Snow
Assessing Reading Comprehension in Bilinguals
Center for Applied Linguistics|University of Houston|Harvard University Press|Harvard University Press
new measure reading comprehension diagnostic assessment reading comprehension darc designed reflect central comprehension processes minimizing decoding language demands pilot tested conducted three pilot studies assess darcs feasibility reliability comparability across spanish english developmental sensitivity relation standardized measures first study carried 16 secondthrough sixthgrade english language learners showed darc items appropriate reading level second pilot study 28 native spanishspeaking fourth graders scored poorly woodcockjohnson language proficiency reading passages subtest revealed range scores darc yesno answers valid indicators respondents thinking spanish english versions darc comparable third study carried 521 spanishspeaking students kindergarten grade 3 confirmed different comprehension processes assessed darc text memory text inferencing background knowledge knowledge integration could measured independently darc scores less strongly related word reading woodcockjohnson comprehension scores minimizing need high levels english oral proficiency decoding ability darc potential reflect central comprehension processes secondlanguage readers english effectively measures