Which strategy should a teacher use first when helping a language learner read English text with differing directionality from the home language?

• A. Consulting a Specialist About Setting Up an Intervention for the Student
• B. Modeling Directionality of English Reading
• C. Verbal Reminders to Read in the Opposite Direction
• D. Comparing Differences Between Text Directionality in English and the Student's Home Language

Answer: (B)

Modeling the left-to-right directionality of English reading first gives the student a concrete, visible pattern to imitate. By using a pointer or finger to guide the eyes as you read aloud, you show exactly how to move from the left edge across each word, through spaces, and into punctuation. This creates a dependable scaffold and helps the learner build the habit of tracking print in the English direction, which is essential when the home language moves in a different direction. Verbal reminders alone are less effective because they don’t provide the observable action the student needs to mirror. Once the student can consistently follow the modeled directionality, you can later introduce comparisons between English and the home language to deepen understanding, but initial success comes from clear, guided modeling of how to read in English.