In episode 113 of Growing with Proficiency the Podcast, I’m discussing how we can write comprehensible texts for our students. And if you’re thinking, “No, I don’t write my text because I have resources and I have a curriculum”, you still want to listen to this episode because even if we have our curriculum, resources, or are even happy with our textbook, there are going to be many cases where we see the resources, the text that we have, and we’re going to find that it’s not at the level of our students.
I think we all should have the skills and be able to identify how we can adjust those resources to make them comprehensible for our students. And, if you have a creative side and want to write the resources for your students, then this episode can help you do that.
In episode 113, my guest is Nelly Andrade-Hughes, an outstanding Spanish teacher and author of many comprehensible readers and educational materials for Spanish classes, and we dive into the art of creating comprehensible texts for language learners. Nelly has also been a guest of the podcast in episode 91 in Spanish. Listen here.
Why We Need Comprehensible Texts for Our Students
First, I asked Nelly to explain why we need comprehensible texts for our students. She explained that if text is not comprehensible, students will not acquire the language. Nelly gave an example of a personal experience of being in Russia for a month surround by the language, yet she did not comprehend anything. Nelly then shared an additional experience she had during a presentation where she was told to read a passage, in English, that was still incomprehensible to her because she had not been exposed to many of the words. Listen here to her story. Often, our students pretend to understand when they don’t, leading to a lack of true comprehension at the end of a unit. They might even be able to pass quizzes, but could be only matching words from the quiz to words from the reading.
Strategies for Writing Comprehensible Texts
Next, Nelly and I talked about strategies we can use for writing comprehensible texts. Nelly introduced the concept of the “super seven” verbs, which are essential for communication in a new language, including verbs of location, existence, possession, identity, performance, motion, and volition.
She advises using proper nouns instead of generic nouns, keeping in mind that not all cognates are created equal and that not all vocabulary is familiar to students. It’s important to use good judgement when choosing cognates and consider whether a word is truly necessary for comprehension. Ask yourself, “How crucial is this word in what I’m trying to say?”
We also discussed the balance between making text comprehensible and compelling, especially for older students who are not novice thinkers. Listen above or here.
Syntactical Considerations for Comprehensible Text
Then, I asked Nelly to tell us a little bit about the syntax; how she thinks about the syntax of the sentences, the length of the sentences, the structure of the sentences, and the amount of the words. Nelly advises using short sentences and paragraphs for novice students to avoid overwhelming them and ensuring that key information is repeated for comprehension.
It’s also important to use verbs in different tenses to make the text sound natural and not overly grammar-focused. In episode 113, Nelly shares her method of repeating key information about a topic in different ways to help students understand, using the example of the Quetzal bird. Listen above to hear her method. Nelly emphasized making text engaging and interesting for students, using examples like cultural topics and current events.
Progression from Novice to Intermediate Levels
In this episode, Nelly explains that as students progress from novice to intermediate levels, they can handle longer sentences, more paragraphs, and more complex vocabulary. It’s important to teach students how to read and understand texts with unfamiliar words, using the Seal of Biliteracy exam as a goal.
At intermediate levels, you want to add more verbs and vocabulary, focusing on the “sweet 16” verbs identified by Mike Peto. We then talked about the importance of adding dialog and connectors in intermediate texts to make them more engaging and natural. Listen here.
Balancing Word Count and Comprehensibility
In our discussion, Nelly explains the concept of “unique words” in text, which are not proper nouns or cognates, and the recommended word counts for different levels. I also asked Nelly about her readers. She explained that the word count for a book includes all words, not just unique words, and that the number of words can vary depending on the topic and level. You can find a link to her readers below in the resource section.
When writing comprehensible texts, you want to make sure texts are interesting and relevant to students, using examples like personal interviews and current events. You want to make sure you are also reading with students to provide additional support and comprehension, especially for novice levels.
Enhancing Text with Multi-Modality and Images
In addition to the text, you can use multi modality. This provides different ways for students to engage with the text. Nelly suggests using images to enhance comprehension, such as flat icon images or pictures of animals, to help students understand key words and concepts. Be careful with images to ensure they are clear and not ambiguous, using examples like pictures of animals next to their names. Nelly also suggests the use of Chat GPT and dictionaries of synonyms and antonyms to help enrich text and provide more natural language options.
Adapting Existing Resources to Make Them Comprehensible
There are ways to use existing resources. Nelly advises adapting existing resources to make them more comprehensible for students by using familiar vocabulary and simplifying complex sentences. When you know your students’ backgrounds and interests, you can tailor texts to their needs. Another tip is to observe students’ engagement and comprehension levels so you can adjust texts accordingly.
Even if you have resources, curriculum, or a textbook you need to follow, understanding the basis of comprehensible texts is crucial so you can make changes to the ones you have or identify quickly if that text you’ll be using in your class tomorrow is comprehensible for your students. Episode 113 gives you many strategies to keep your content accessible to your students. Listen here for the full episode.
