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Optimum Readability Levels for Japanese Elementary-level EFL Learners
The author analyzed the reading histories of 42 students in an ER program in Japan. They joined the program at 15 years old and read a million words or more of English texts for five to seven years. They were divided into three groups depending on their TOEIC score increase rate: 57, 121, and 187 points per million words on average. Their readability levels (Yomiyasusa-level: YL) and the total words read were analyzed. The lowest score-increase group had read 2.2 million total words and was reading the texts of YL 3.2 on average. In comparison, the highest score-increase group had read ‘fewer’ 1.2 total words and was reading ‘easier-to-read’ text of YL 2.1 when they both scored TOEIC 500. The result suggests that the optimum readability levels for Japanese elementary-level EFL learners are around YL 2.5 or even lower when their TOEIC scores are 500.
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He conducted a long-term ER program in a Japanese Engineering college, KOSEN, from 2003 to 2021. The ER program accepted students aged 15 to continue ER in weekly lessons for seven years. In this program, he confirmed the necessity of a long-term program, in-class ER, and easy-to-read English texts. Currently, he helps public libraries and adult EFL learners in the Tokai and Kansai areas through introductory lessons in ER and advice in regular meetups of library users.