Reading fluency in a second language

This article reviews theory and research in the area of fluency in reading. Issues examined include variations in reading rate according to reading process; the role and development of rate in current models of reading (i.e., information processing, verbal efficiency, and PDP models); and factors contributing to inefficient processing and slower reading rates among L2 readers. In light of this theoretical framework, instructional implications are drawn and specific instructional activities that show promise to develop L2 reader fluency (i.e., repeated reading, prosodic reading, phrase group reading) and facilitate the fluent reading of L2 text (i.e., previewing, word analysis procedure) are described.