Developing awareness of sounds

An awareness of individual sounds in language is necessary to acquire the ability to read alphabetic languages. It is the most important pre-reading skill in determining success in learning to read (Troyer and Yopp 1990). This awareness of sounds is called phonemic awareness.

Studies with children in Western countries have shown that although phonemic awareness is not spontaneously acquired, it can be successfully taught and improves later reading ability and proficiency.

“Toward the goal of efficient and effective reading instructions, explicit training of phonemic awareness is invaluable” (Adams 1990).

There are several levels of phonemic awareness. Here are some levels from large to small units:

• Spoken words
• Syllables
• Phonemes
• Onsets and rimes

• Teach them phonemic awareness skills .
• Use activities for developing phonemic awareness.

• Adams 1990
• Ball and Blachman 1991
• Troyer and Yopp 1990
• Yopp 1992

• Task module: Developing awareness of sounds, by Delle P. Matthews and Glenys Waters (contributor)
• In task module: Developing reading readiness skills, by Delle P. Matthews
• In task module: Preparing people to read and write, by Delle P. Matthews, Anne Klaassens (contributor), and Leah B. Walter (contributor)
• In task module: Implementing a literacy program, by Carole P. Spaeth (compiler)
• In modular book: Implement a literacy program, by Carole P. Spaeth (compiler) and Leah B. Walter (compiler)
• In bookshelf: Literacy

This page is an extract from the LinguaLinks Library, Version 4.0, published on CD-ROM by SIL International, 1999. [Ordering information.]

Page content last modified: 25 October 1999

© 1999 SIL International