Assessments of English Reading and Language Comprehension in Bilingual Children: A Systematic Review 2010 to 2021

Abstract

Learning to read marks an important milestone in children. Extensive research with monolingual and bilingual children has demonstrated that language comprehension (LC) forms fundamental building blocks for reading comprehension (RC). However, mixed findings are reported among studies that compare readings skills in children with and without diverse language experiences. Depending on how researchers operationalize the construct of LC and RC, studies use different standardized tests or assessments to assess reading skills in children, which may lead to different findings across studies. The current review systematically examined tests of LC and RC that empirical studies have used to assess bilingual children who speak English as their second language. Out of an initial sample of 374 studies, 25 were eligible for inclusion. We extracted LC and RC assessments from the studies and documented task- and administration-related factors. Moreover, participant characteristics, definition of LC as described by authors, and findings related to the relationship between LC and RC were examined for each study. Our results demonstrated variability in the measures and definitions used to assess and describe LC and RC, potentially explaining the mixed findings in the literature. We underscore the importance of considering the multidimensional nature of LC and the need to further explore how different administrative and task characteristics of LC tests relate to RC. Furthermore, this review provides researchers and practitioners with an original and extensive survey of the literature on how LC and RC were assessed among bilingual children. Lastly, we highlight limitations in the current literature and discuss practical implications in the field of school psychology in supporting children with diverse language experiences.