Reading Authentic English Picture Books in the Primary School EFL Classroom

This book deals with reading authentic English picture books in the primary school EFL classroom in Germany. Questioning whether teachers and researchers underestimate young learners’ competences in English as a foreign language, the author conducted a mixed methods study that investigated Year 4 EFL learners’ reading of six different picture books. While focusing on the learners’ reading comprehension and reading strategies, the study also explored the possible effects of regular reading on foreign language development. The results of the study suggest a greater focus on meaningful reading tasks in the primary school EFL classroom to create a challenging, authentic and individualised learning environment for young learners of English.

Julia Reckermann qualified as a teacher of English at primary and lower secondary levels. Since 2012, she has been working in the TEFL departments of various German universities, training future teachers and conducting research on teaching English as a foreign language. Her areas of expertise include young FL learners, CLIL, TBLT and action research.