Lexile Framework for Listening
The Lexile Framework for Listening is a scientific approach that places both students and listening resources on the same developmental scale, the Lexile scale. Through this approach, educators can evaluate if the listening challenge of the audio material is appropriate for a given student and ensure that students are matched with material that facilitates the optimal growth in students’ listening ability.
- Student measures (Lexile listening measure)
- Audio measures of the material (Lexile audio measure)
The Lexile listening measure indicates a student’s ability to listen and understand an audio passage spoken in English. MetaMetrics has developed a bank of listening test passages and items used to measure a student’s listening ability. The bank includes items appropriate for students ranging from kindergarten through high school.
The Lexile audio measure estimates the listening difficulty of an English-language audio file. Each audio file is analyzed by the Lexile Audio Analyzer. The Lexile Audio Analyzer evaluates the acoustics and content of audio material to determine its Lexile audio measure. Vocabulary, grammar, word sounds, and delivery are the indicators that the Analyzer evaluates.
MetaMetrics provides an API service that can be used to submit audio files for measurement by the Lexile audio analyzer and return a Lexile audio measure (see About Lexile Audio API).
For more information about measures, see Lexile Listening Measures and Audio Measures and our white paper Lexile Framework For Listening: Building Tools for Success.
- Monitor student listening comprehension. The Lexile scale is a developmental scale, which means that scores can be compared across grade levels and years as students grow. Students listening comprehension can be assessed in the early grades and monitored to ensure that growth continues.
- Identify possible causes of reading comprehension challenges. Students who have normally developing decoding skills and weak listening comprehension skills may struggle to read. With the insight provided by knowing a student’s listening comprehension level, educators can select appropriate intervention methods to assist in improving both listening and reading skills.
- Select appropriate audio materials for instruction. When audio material has a Lexile listening measure to identify its level of listening challenge, educators and parents have important information to help select the most appropriate audio materials for students. For example, if a student has struggled to understand the material at 800L, educators should select audio material at a lower level to help ensure that the student can comprehend or provide instructional scaffolding to help students access the audio material. Similarly, educators can steadily increase the audio challenge of materials to ensure students are exposed to language that enriches and extends their language abilities.
- Compare student listening and reading abilities. Because the Lexile Framework for Listening development process included placing student measures on the Lexile scale using student reading measures, educators can compare student reading and listening abilities to identify areas of strength or weakness.
- Increase the instructional use of audio materials in the classroom. Measured audio materials can be matched with student listening measures to increase growth in listening comprehension and, indirectly, reading comprehension.
More information about the Lexile Framework for Listening can be found here.
