What strategies improve Chinese reading fluency for level C1 learners

To improve Chinese reading fluency for C1-level learners, effective strategies include:

• Extensive reading and intensive reading combined: Engaging in extensive reading helps increase exposure to various vocabulary and background knowledge, while intensive reading focuses on explicit instruction of comprehension skills and detailed text analysis. ¹¹
• Reading acceleration programs: These programs, which include paradigms for character- or word-accelerated reading, can improve both reading speed and comprehension in Chinese learners. ^{7, 8}
• Leveraging input-focused acquisition: Emphasizing “acquisition” over mere “learning,” based on Krashen’s Input Hypothesis, suggests that meaningful, comprehensible input is key for fluency. ¹
• Format familiarity and word frequency awareness: Practice recognizing vocabulary with attention to the format and commonality of words improves recognition and fluency, as Chinese reading relies on correct character and word segmentation. ⁹
• Use of cognitive skill training: Enhancing rapid naming, phonological and orthographical awareness contributes to fluent reading, particularly by strengthening recognition of morphemes which are critical in Chinese. ¹⁴
• Balancing reading skills development: Reading courses should aim to teach language knowledge, cultural context, and reading strategies to support comprehension and build lifelong reading competence. ¹⁰

In summary, at advanced levels like C1, improving Chinese reading fluency involves a multi-faceted approach combining extensive exposure to authentic texts, targeted fluency training, strategic focus on cognitive and linguistic components, and cultural knowledge expansion. These strategies align with research on second language acquisition and reading fluency specific to Chinese. ^{1, 7, 9, 11, 14}

References

• Study on the Acquisition Strategies in College English Reading Curriculum from the Perspective of Second Language Acquisition

• College-level L 2 English Writing Competence : Conjunctions and Errors

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• A Special Chinese Reading Acceleration Training Paradigm: To Enhance the Reading Fluency and Comprehension of Chinese Children with Reading Disabilities

• A Special Chinese Reading Acceleration Training Paradigm: To Enhance the Reading Fluency and Comprehension of Chinese Children with Reading Disabilities

• The Role of Format Familiarity and Word Frequency in Chinese Reading

• Research on the Connotation and Teaching Strategies of Chinese Reading Teaching

• The Roles of Intensive and Extensive Reading Activities in Chinese EFL University Students’ Reading Comprehension Skills

• Reading fluency as the bridge between decoding and reading comprehension in Chinese children

• Learning Strategies for Chinese as Foreign Language Learners in College: A Qualitative Study

• Cognitive Correlates of Reading Fluency in Chinese School-Aged Children