Which feature supports reading for bilingual or ESL readers?

• A. Word highlighting as text is read in English or native languages
• B. No highlighting
• C. Text-only in one language
• D. Audio-only with no text

Answer: (A)

Word-by-word highlighting that tracks each word as it’s spoken, in English or the student’s native language, supports reading for bilingual or ESL learners by tying spoken language to written text. This alignment helps students connect sounds to letters, boosting decoding and reading fluency. It also provides a bridge between languages: students can see and hear the same content in either language, which strengthens vocabulary and comprehension across both languages. Without this cue, there’s no immediate link between how words sound and how they are written; text-only in one language misses the bilingual support; and audio-only without text removes the visual aid that helps learners follow along and recognize words.