진정본과 단순본 형태의 아동용 영어 이야기책 비교연구

Comparison of children"s English storybooks in authentic and simplified text

  The present study attempts to provide comprehensive evaluation of children"s English storybooks in authentic and simplified text and to suggest the most efficient way to utilize the two types of storybooks for children"s English literacy development. To achieve the aim, first, English reading specialists evaluated authentic and simplified storybooks against some criteria affecting children"s voluntary reading and assistance for their literacy development. Second, to investigate parents‘ perceptions and uses of the two different types of storybooks, we conducted an on-line survey of parents who had been using storybooks for years. Finally, we interviewed seven mothers whose children demonstrated excellent English reading performance as reported via mass media. The results indicated that, although authentic English storybooks were evaluated higher in terms of contents and pictures, and simplified storybooks as to language and readability, parents" preferences of the two types were not much different. Yet, those with advanced English skills preferred authentic storybooks, responding to simplified storybooks just for a short period of time in their early stage of literacy development. Based on these results, we further suggest pedagogical implications and guidelines of using the two kinds of reading materials for children"s English literacy development.