English Reading for Asian Students / Grace E. Lee.

This paper discusses the importance of bilingual-bicultural programs--which provide instruction in the student's native language and culture and in the American language and culture--in helping Asian-American students to succeed in the dominant culture. Teachers in such programs need to be sensitive to students' home environment, educational background, cultural values and priorities, and linguistic development. The paper discusses factors in the home environment which may affect students' ability to speak and read English; provides a brief description of values, cognitive styles, and learning modalities which are common to many Asian groups; and outlines some linguistic variables in the Chinese, Japanese, Korean, and Vietnamese languages. Final sections of the paper deal with difficulties which English phonology poses for Asian students, effective ways of helping Asian students to reconstruct English syntax, and the importance of assisting Asian students in interpreting what they read in the light of American culture. (GW)

Microfiche. [Washington D.C.]: ERIC Clearinghouse microfiches : positive.