Developing Cross-Language Metrics for Reading Fluency Measurement

Since 2005, over 70 oral reading fluency tests have been given in many languages and scripts, either as part of the Early Grade Reading Assessment (EGRA) or as individual one-minute tests. Particularly in multilingual countries, reading speed and comprehension measures have been taken in multiple languages (e.g., Kenya) and also in multiple scripts (e.g., Ethiopia, India).

As a result, various reading rates and comprehension measures appear side by side in various documents. But how comparable are the numbers? And why should they be compared? This paper seeks to explore the options for comparing reading rates and potential methods to be tried.