With the increasing popularity of audiobooks, some teachers and parents of young readers might be inclined to view them as a form of "cheating" or lacking in academic rigor. However, studies indicate that audiobooks can be beneficial in fostering important literacy skills, particularly for students who struggle with reading, have difficulty remaining still, or experience ADHD, dyslexia, or other learning challenges. Narrators like James Patrick Cronin, known for his engaging storytelling, demonstrate how audiobooks can captivate listeners, bringing stories to life in ways that enhance comprehension and foster a love for literature.
The Joy of Listening
Like many children fortunate enough to be surrounded by books, I loved reading even before I learned how to do it myself. My most significant early experiences with literacy came not from reading printed words, but from listening to stories told aloud—whether through bedtime tales, library readings, or radio dramas. Engaging with these spoken narratives, whether with family, classmates or by myself, provided me with a limitless space for imagination, free from the constraints of text. As a busy young adult, I've found that audio media, such as audiobooks and podcasts, have become crucial to my daily and weekly habits. I'm not the only one in this regard. Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the popularity of audiobooks and podcasts has surged in both the US and the UK. Accessing and enjoying audio content is now more convenient than ever, and its portability and ability to be enjoyed while multitasking make it a perfect source of information and entertainment for those with a quick-paced lifestyle.
Audiobooks are undoubtedly fun and convenient for both children and adults, yet some individuals question their effectiveness in helping young readers improve their literacy skills. Many feel that audiobooks are too simplistic and resemble "cheating." Some parents express concern that audiobooks could hinder their children's ability to learn to read printed text. However, education researchers clarify that using audiobooks is not a form of cheating and can be utilized in various ways to enhance or support the learning process for students.
Why Listening is Not Cheating
In an article for The New York Times, psychologist Daniel T. Willingham discusses the striking similarities between reading and listening. He notes that when the process of decoding letter-sound relationships becomes automatic, the mental activities required for both reading and listening are nearly identical, particularly with narrative texts. For individuals who struggle with phonics or lack fluency—such as students with dyslexia or Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)—decoding can add a cognitive burden that hinders their ability to utilize language processing skills for comprehension. Audiobooks can alleviate this burden, allowing students to focus on improving their other literacy skills while also engaging in the more advanced task of understanding the content of the text.
Willingham highlights several distinctions between print and audio texts that make each more effective for specific functions. For instance, listening to reading with expressive intonation (such as pitch, speed, and emphasis) can aid in comprehending unclear sentences or new vocabulary. Conversely, reading enables us to pause, re-read, and reflect at our own pace, which generally leads to better retention of complex information compared to audio formats. Grasping the subtleties and finer points in audio texts can be difficult, particularly when multitasking.
Benefits of Audiobooks for Early Readers
Building listening skills and focus
Listening is essential for various types of learning, including reading, and it requires practice to develop active listening skills, just like any other ability. Young readers can comprehend longer books through listening than they can read on their own, and their capacity to concentrate on a narrative can enhance their focus on written texts. Regularly listening to audiobooks while maintaining attention can also support the development of phonemic and phonological awareness, which involves recognizing the sounds in their language. The benefits of audiobooks for students extend further, allowing them to engage with the material without needing to remain still, unlike printed books, which can be particularly helpful for those who struggle with attention or learning challenges.
Developing fluency
High-quality audiobooks feature smooth and expressive readings that engage listeners and serve as a reference for students aiming to enhance their reading fluency. A method known as Reading While Listening (RWL) has proven effective in boosting fluency, particularly among those learning a second language. Fluency, defined as the ability to read quickly, accurately, and with expression, serves as a basis for automaticity, which in turn facilitates improved understanding. Additionally, listening to skilled and expressive reading can help enhance comprehension.
Supporting decoding and analysis
Listening while reading along in the text also helps students grasp the relationship between letters and sounds, as well as the pronunciation of tougher words.
Growth in Comprehension
As students are in the process of learning to decode text, it can be challenging for them to understand and integrate information while reading. Although they require guidance and practice in decoding, incorporating audiobooks can help them enhance their comprehension skills. This allows them to absorb a narrative or information and engage in interpretation and analysis without the extra cognitive load of decoding. Audiobooks make it easier for students to visualize the story, grasp the message, apply critical thinking, and relate new information to their existing knowledge.
Increasing vocabulary and enhancing background knowledge
Students can listen to audiobooks that are at a higher reading level than their own, allowing them to encounter new and challenging vocabulary. This enables them to explore various genres without needing to focus on deciphering unfamiliar words and helps them expand their world knowledge while developing advanced thinking skills. This is especially beneficial for older students who are still improving their basic decoding and fluency skills; by avoiding the potentially stressful and embarrassing task of decoding text, they can engage with grade-level content and material that aligns better with their interests and intellectual abilities.
Connection and engagement
Studies indicate that audio tends to evoke emotions more powerfully than written text. Hearing a human voice narrate a story is an experience that naturally captivates us and elicits emotional connections. Research has revealed that even students who typically struggle to engage in classroom activities are more enthusiastic in discussions that involve critical thinking when the material is read aloud, as auditory experiences are more psychologically stimulating. Additionally, there is evidence showing that people exhibit greater physiological signs of engagement when listening to audio compared to watching videos.
Having a reliable adult, such as a parent or teacher, read to students is crucial for this reason, and it also fosters a positive social atmosphere. Nonetheless, this isn't always feasible, and audiobooks offer distinct advantages in terms of engagement.
Exposing students to various narrators helps them experience different dialects and accents. Familiar dialects can be reassuring, particularly for students who speak a nonstandard variety, while unfamiliar ones may promote a greater openness and understanding of those dialects. Listening to an audiobook together as a family or in a classroom setting can foster connections and spark discussions. Additionally, parents have the option to record themselves reading, allowing them to bond with their children even when they are not physically present. \
Audiobooks can promote a sense of educational independence. Students who have the ability to adjust the audio speed, decide when to play or pause, and choose which books to explore gain more from audiobooks, as they can listen at their own pace and based on their preferences. Additionally, listening to an audiobook can provide a feeling of achievement and boost students’ confidence.
The Next Level: Text-to-Speech
While audiobooks are now widely accessible, not all texts are available in audio format. This can create a considerable obstacle for many students, especially those with learning disabilities such as dyslexia and ADHD. However, assistive technologies like text-to-speech software can help students (and adults) interact more comfortably with texts that lack audio options. For instance, the app Speechify was developed by an individual who faced reading challenges due to dyslexia, with the aim of making literature and information accessible to everyone, regardless of their abilities (you can watch his inspiring TEDxTalk here).
Audiobooks and Literacy
We focus on fostering students' literacy development through personalized instruction. However, there are numerous other methods for enhancing literacy skills. Listening to literature and informational texts is a fantastic way to improve listening abilities, increase fluency, refine comprehension and critical thinking skills, broaden vocabulary and knowledge, and create enjoyable reading experiences.