Evans, B. 1988

Evans, Beverley. 1988. "A comparison of eclectic and language experience approaches to reading in a vernacular preschool." Notes on Literacy 53:45–58.

"In March 1984, two Barai vernacular preschool classes began at Itokama village, Oro Province [Papua New Guinea]. Each of these classes was taught by a different reading method, and their progress and results throughout the year were closely observed and compared.

Class A was taught by an Analytical Eclectic method that had been successfully used previously in the adult vernacular classes in the area. Words are broken down to syllables and vowels and then built up again to words, with only a limited amount of connected reading material introduced each day. Drills are practiced daily.

Class B was taught by the Language Experience approach, following the premise that children learn to read by reading. A quantity of culturally familiar text was read daily, the emphasis was on reading for meaning without analysis.

These two methods were evaluated and the Language Experience approach was decided upon as the method of reading instruction for future preschools" (page 45).

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