Empowering Multilingual Learners with Readable English

In today’s classrooms, educators are challenged to meet the needs of an increasingly diverse student population. Among the most complex needs are those of multilingual learners - students navigating the dual challenge of acquiring academic content while simultaneously learning English. When multilingual learners are expected to decode complex English words while simultaneously building vocabulary and comprehension, the cognitive load can be overwhelming. Readable English eases this burden by making word recognition intuitive and efficient, transforming the way students access and master the English language.

The Challenge of Second Language Acquisition (SLA)

Second Language Acquisition (SLA) refers to the process of learning a language after a first language has already been established. SLA is shaped by numerous variables, including a student’s literacy in their native language, their cultural and linguistic background, and their home environment, such as whether caregivers speak English.

Effective SLA instruction requires a balance of all four key domains of language development: listening, speaking, reading, and writing. Yet, a barrier that touches on all four domains is the complexity of English spelling. English is not a phonetic language - spelling often fails to match pronunciation, making decoding and accurate word recognition a frustrating process for learners.

THE SCIENCE OF READING AND SCARBOROUGH’S ROPE

Understanding how students learn to read requires a look at research-backed models like the Gough and Turner’s (1986) Simple View of Reading, which explains that:

Decoding (D) × Language Comprehension (LC) = Reading Comprehension (RC)

This model is expanded in Scarborough’s Reading Rope (2001), which shows reading as a braided integration of two main strands: Word Recognition and Language Comprehension. Initially, these strands develop separately, but as students progress, they intertwine into skilled reading.

Multilingual learners face challenges with both strands of the rope. They need to learn the vocabulary and language structures of even spoken English, and decoding unfamiliar written words often adds an extra layer of cognitive demand. This can slow down reading, limit vocabulary acquisition, and lead to frustration. Readable English reduces that load by making English phonetic, without altering spelling, eliminating decoding barriers. 

How Readable English Supports Word RecognitioN

Readable English directly supports the Word Recognition component by taking the guesswork out of pronunciation. It does this through a unique set of visual scaffolds:

• Grayed-out letters – Indicate silent letters.
• Syllable breaks – Break words into readable chunks.
• Glyphs – Provide visual cues for irregular sounds.

By making English phonetic, without changing the spelling, Readable English empowers students to pronounce words correctly from their first encounter. This frees up cognitive energy to focus on vocabulary development and reading comprehension.

Preventing Fossilization with Accurate Pronunciation

One of the major pitfalls in language acquisition is fossilization—when incorrect language usage, especially pronunciation, becomes ingrained and resistant to correction.

For example, students might pronounce “determine” as “de-ter-mine” (with a long “i”) or “novice” as “noh-vice.” These errors, once fossilized, are hard to unlearn.

Readable English tackles this head-on. By marking up every word with pronunciation cues, students develop accurate pronunciation habits from day one, drastically reducing the risk of fossilization.

Tools & Features That Empower English Learners

Readable English is packed with features tailored to support multilingual learners:

• Phonetic Markup – Ensures each word has its own embedded pronunciation guide.

• Browser Extension – Provides instant single-click definitions and translations.

• Vocabulary Module – Fosters awareness of morphological families with weekly activities on base words, root words, affixes etc.

• Voice Recognition Activities – Provide instant pronunciation feedback.

• Oral Reading Fluency Tracking (ORF) – Provides opportunities for oral reading practice and tracks progress in real-time.

• Mouth Movement Videos – Show how each sound is formed.
  
  

Recommended Implementations for Every Proficiency Level

Flexible implementation options are available for the different levels of English proficiency and available instructional time:

• Level 1–2: Start with the Standard English lessons

• Level 3+: Begin with Breaking the Code

• Limited instructional time: Use the Self-Paced Model

• Full instructional time: Use the Teacher-Led (Levels 1–3) or Combined (Levels 4–6) models

These flexible implementation options make it possible to integrate Readable English into virtually any classroom setting.

Results That Speak Volumes

Indiana Department of Education Implementation (2023–2024)

During the 2023–2024 school year, the Readable English program was implemented in several Indiana schools through funding from the Indiana Department of Education. Across grades 5–9, a group of 119 students participated in the program and achieved an average Lexile® growth of 133L.

To put this in perspective, the expected normative growth over the same period is typically 20L. This means participating students grew 5.7 times more than the national average.

Birmingham Charter Case Study

At Birmingham Community Charter High School, students experienced rapid reading improvement within just 2-3 weeks of using Readable English. The embedded markup proved especially impactful for English learners, helping them confidently decode complex words.

These gains were validated through the English Language Proficiency Assessments for California (ELPAC), with measurable progress seen across all English learner participants.

Perhaps most notably, this academic growth led to real-world outcomes: 

• One-third of students were reclassified from English Learner to English Fluent status
• 100% of students showed measurable growth in reading levels. 

This progress was paired with a noticeable cultural shift in the classroom - students were more engaged, confident to read out loud, and empowered in their learning.

A Universal Tool for Every Curriculum

One of the most powerful aspects of Readable English is its text conversion tool, which allows any English-language content - textbooks, curricula, worksheets, novels - to be converted into the Readable English format.

This means students don’t have to wait to become fluent to engage with rigorous content. Instead, they can decode it accurately from day one, building vocabulary and comprehension skills in context.

What Educators and Experts Are Saying

“Based on theory and data, I can recommend Readable English in the strongest possible terms. It has the power to transform the teaching of English.”
— Professor John Sweller, Founder of Cognitive Load Theory

“The grayed-out letters and syllabication patterns are game-changers. Students finally understand why English is so hard—and how to master it.”
— Kim Hicks, ELL District Coordinator

Summary

For multilingual learners, the journey to reading proficiency is often slowed by the unpredictable nature of English spelling and pronunciation. By making every word phonetically transparent, students are able to decode words accurately and independently, freeing up cognitive resources for vocabulary growth and language comprehension. 

When learners feel capable, they engage more deeply. And when they can read fluently, everything else becomes possible.

Transform your approach to ML support - reach out to schedule a demo today!