A Cross-Linguistic Examination of Heterogeneous Reading Profiles of Spanish-Speaking English Language Learners

• In Event: Critical Issues in Literacy Research 1

Abstract

Research with English monolinguals has identified key subskills of reading comprehension that can differentiate subgroups of readers. There remains a dearth of research examining these subskills in Spanish-speaking English language learners (SS-ELLS) and few studies have identified subgroups of SS-ELLS. This study used latent profile analysis to identify three distinct profiles of SS-ELLS based on Spanish and English subskill measures and examined profile differences in Spanish and English reading comprehension. The profiles were primarily distinguished by Spanish measures and were labeled Spanish dominant, Average English-Average Spanish, and English dominant. The Spanish dominant profile scored highest in Spanish and English reading comprehension. The Average English-Average Spanish profile scored higher than the English dominant profile in English reading comprehension. Implications are discussed.

Authors

• Ryan Grimm, University of California - Davis

• Emily Solari, University of California - Davis

• H. Lee Swanson, University of California - Riverside