| Scope and method of study. The purpose of this study was to examine the nature and patterns of L2 vocabulary development of six ESL adults for reading a second language; to examine the characteristics of the L2 reading threshold; to compare L2 vocabulary development and book choices between individuals and levels; and to develop a rationale for using children's literature with ESL adults. This study was conducted in three phases over sixteen weeks at Oklahoma State University. During the first and final phases surveys and four vocabulary tests determined L2 vocabulary levels and reading backgrounds. During the reading phase, subjects chose books and wrote lists of unknown words with definitions per book. Quantitative analyses of data included frequencies for linguistic aspects of vocabulary, definitions, dictionary use, and book choices for individual subjects and levels. Qualitative data included profiles for individual subjects, levels and L2 reading threshold; and selection criteria of children's literature to use with ESL adults.; Findings and conclusions. Among the many differences found between levels, beginners had more vocabulary, more syntactic classes, wrote more L1 definitions, and used their dictionaries differently than subjects above the threshold. The three most important conclusions on developmental patterns were found to be: the importance of word consciousness for L2 reading; the individuality of each ESL adult reader, and the importance and use of the visual genre at different levels. |
