Benjamin Piper|Leila Schroeder|Barbara Trudell
Oral reading fluency and comprehension in Kenya: reading acquisition in a multilingual environment
Africa International University
reading research shown variable relationships exist measures oral reading fluency reading comprehension depending whether language text readers first language additional language paper explores phenomenon using reading assessment data 2000 kenyan children two three languages english kiswahili one two mother tongues dholuo gikuyu assessment data allowed us compare reading comprehension rates across languages data indicated many children could read english words easily words kiswahili mother tongue nevertheless reading comprehension significantly lower english kiswahili dholuo gikuyu paper concludes emphasising english reading fluency inefficient route gaining reading comprehension skills pupils actually attaining minimal oral reading fluency english modest comprehension skills languages evidence also demonstrates kenyas national language policy mother tongue medium instruction early primary grades consistently ignored practice