Reading Like A 5th Grader
What it takes to read like a 5th grader in your second language ✨
One of the ways I bond with my students is to engage in the same shows and books they enjoy. So, when a 5th-grader asked if she could give me anime and manga recommendations, I readily agreed. They handed me this adorable and thoughtful list which compelled me to check them out immediately.
The following week over recess, I shared my thoughts on the first series on the list - Hakumei and Mikochi. My students’ reactions surprised me; they were genuinely amazed at my ability to read “like them.” A chuckle escaped from my lips because it actually took me hours to finish the manga. It also delivered a soft blow to my ego.
Putting things in perspective, one might assume that 5th-grade reading materials are relatively simple, but the truth is that they are way more challenging in your second language. Additionally, this left me wondering – what does it really mean to read like a fifth grader?
Not as Elementary As You'd Think
Having the reading level of a fifth grader means that a person's reading comprehension and vocabulary skills are similar to those of an average student in the fifth grade. This typically includes:
Reading and understanding texts with multiple paragraphs and more complex sentence structures.
Identifying main ideas, supporting details, and drawing conclusions from the text.
Understanding and using figurative language, such as similes, metaphors, and idioms.
Expanding vocabulary by learning new words and their meanings in context.
First-Language Perspective: American 5th-Grade Standards
The vocabulary of a typical American fifth grader can vary based on their reading habits, exposure to language at home and school, and other factors. However, researchers have found that vocabulary development speeds up during elementary school. A study by Nagy and Anderson (1984) estimated that children learn around 3,000 new words each year in school starting from third grade. By the end of fifth grade, students will likely know about 10,000-12,000 words or more. According to Merritt's (2012) speech and language development checklist, students generally understand approximately 20,000 to 40,000 words. That’s a staggering amount of flashcards for English learners!
Second-Language Comparison: Japanese 5th-Grade Standards
The number of vocabulary words a typical Japanese fifth grader knows may vary. According to the Japanese Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT), by the end of the 5th grade, students should have learned about 881 kanji characters as part of their education.
Each kanji can represent complete words or be used in compound words. On average, each kanji character can be combined with others or used individually to create approximately 2-10 words or more.
Kanji characters are derived from images or concepts (ideographic), meaning knowing their meanings can provide hints about the context of a sentence. Even if you don't know the exact pronunciation, understanding hundreds of kanji characters can help you understand or guess the meaning of thousands more vocabulary words. In addition to kanji, students learn vocabulary in hiragana, katakana, and loanwords from other languages. Considering all these factors, the total number of vocabulary words to learn is much higher than just the kanji taught.
💡🤔 What language are you currently learning and what are the typical standards or benchmarks for a fifth-grade student in that language?
JLPT N2-ish?
The JLPT is the most widely known test for foreigners trying to prove their Japanese language skills. The N2 level requires knowledge of around 1,000 kanji characters and 6,000 vocabulary words, a good understanding of intermediate to advanced grammar patterns, and the ability to read moderately complex written materials. Compared to native Japanese elementary school students, the number of kanji is similar since they are expected to learn 1,026 kanji by the end of their schooling.
It is challenging to compare the 5th-grade level with the JLPT because they're not designed to align or directly correspond with specific educational grades in Japan's school system.
💡🤔 Is there a proficiency test you can take to help better gauge your reading proficiency level?
Where to go from here?
To read at the level of a native speaker in 5th grade, it seems that one should focus on the following aspects:
Vocabulary: Expanding one's vocabulary to include more words that native speakers of the target language commonly use. A 5th-grade reading level typically requires a firm grasp of basic vocabulary and knowledge of subject-specific terms related to areas such as science, history, or literature.
Grammar: Develop a solid understanding of grammatical structures in the target language, including verb conjugations, tenses, word order, and sentence structure. This will help one read and comprehend texts more efficiently.
Decoding content: Practice reading various texts, such as stories, news articles, and essays specially written for elementary school students. In addition to digesting different materials, one should also try to their ability to understand the main ideas and details within texts.
Contextual understanding: Get familiar with cultural references and idiomatic expressions that might appear in texts aimed at elementary school children. This will help you better understand what you're you're reading.
Developing fluency: To read smoothly at a 5th-grade level, it's also important to practice reading aloud regularly. This will help improve pronunciation and intonation while increasing reading fluency.
Reading like a 5th grader in a second language is indeed no small feat. It requires a broad vocabulary, strong comprehension skills, and an in-depth understanding of grammar, cultural references, and figurative language. The journey towards achieving this level of proficiency actually involves developing a strong linguistic foundation. Just like constructing a building, each brick supports the next one.
Remember that struggling with elementary school-level material is nothing to be ashamed of. Every expert starts as a beginner, and every accomplished reader started by stumbling over words in their favorite books or stories.
Thank you so much for reading. Learning a language is an ongoing journey - keep going! 💛
I was a huge bookworm as a 5th grader, do not underestimate these innocent creatures 😁
I don't consume too much content meant for children, because quite often it involves super specific vocabulary (magic, fables, made-up words). My vocabulary usually revolves around my hobbies and daily life, so I like more realistic books! 😊
Thank you for your insights Shea sensei! 🙏
I loved this. I feel like adults in general understimate and belittle children and children oriented products. It warms my heart to read this complexity being exalted. Of course it comes from a teacher hahahaha. There is no point in teaching if you don't respect your students, after all.
In portuguese, my native language, the transition from 4th to 5th grade was eactly as you said: learning material related to subjects increased a lot. I guess this also explains why I got to a point in english (as a second language) that I can use it well passively, even while I still struggle with output - because I just don't, honestly hahahaha-.
I could also reflect why I struggle so much with spanish (yep, it's very much ironic as a brazilian): I don't use it to learn! So that explains why over the years english got solidified in my brain and spanish kinda melted and sometimes morph itself with english and portuguese and I can't seem to be able to separate it. It's so damn frustrating!!! hahahahaha maybe I'll go back to it in a few years.
Anyway, I'm really enjoying your content. Thank you very much. <3