Readers for young learners: considerations for the language teacher

The use of graded readers in Young Learner (YL) programmes is a common enough feature of a syllabus in many private language schools. However, during my experience working in teacher management I found that when conducting developmental observations for teachers, use of the reader could be given short shrift: a last gasp lesson component that too often leaves the opportunities for linguistic, cultural, and creative development under explored. What I hope to outline below are a number of brief considerations behind the reasons why, and broad suggestions how readers might be more fully utilised.