LEARN TO READ THE BIBLE - the materials development process

The Learn to Read the Bible (LRB) series is a resource designed by the Finnish Bible Society to help beginning readers enhance their reading proficiency in their first language. It provides three levels of difficulty which aim to help individuals progress step-by-step towards fluency.

Bible stories are used to support literacy development in general and to help new readers begin interacting with the Word of God with comprehension.

The LRB series comes with a template in English and French. The purpose of the template is twofold. Firstly, it guides the translator in choosing the appropriate material for each page (which is primarily determined by the corresponding illustrations). Secondly, it serves as a model to help the translator correctly evaluate the difficulty of each text.

Key steps in the material preparation process include:

  • Preparation: For Levels 1 and 2, it has been found useful to use a table with three columns: adaptation, translation of the Bible text, and English model text (cf. picture, and template download below). Before the drafting process begins, either the consultant or translator should prepare the tables in advance by copying the translation of the Bible text into the second column.

    The text is drafted by simplifying the Biblical text which has been published in the language in the adaptation column on the left.

    TIPS:

    • Drafting Level 1-2 texts: The English model text indicates what material is expected on each page. This material coincides with the illustration. The adaptation follows the choice of words and exegetical decisions in the Bible translation. Translation of the English model text should be avoided.
    • Drafting Level 3 text: The Level 3 texts are quite similar to the final Bible publication, except that they lack many of the secondary details and difficult loan words. Therefore, to save time in drafting, it is recommended that the text is first copied from the Bible translation. This text is the starting point, which is then simplified and modified along the lines of the template.
    • Simplification of the text: Remember that the end product is literacy material. Therefore, simplification of the text is necessary even when this means removing material which occurs in the Biblical text.
      Tip: After simplifying the grammar, make sure the text is still well connected and natural.
    • Text and illustrations: Check that that the adapted text relates to the corresponding illustration clearly.

    The content questions can be translated directly from the English model questions.

    TIP:

    • Note that the English model questions were developed in relation to the corresponding English text. Therefore, the translator should be careful to adapt the questions so that they relate clearly to the adapted text in the language they are working on.

    The text is drafted by simplifying the Biblical text of the local language.

  • Particularly at Levels 1 and 2, the adapted text is a significantly simplified version of the Biblical text. It is therefore important to conduct an exegetical check.

    TIPS:

    • Remember that the adapted text should follow the style and exegetical decisions of the published text in that language, not necessarily that of the English model text.
    • Particularly in Level 1-2 texts, the aim is to avoid complex and foreign terms, though these might be used in the published translation.
    • Check how such terms have been simplified (for example, “a Levite” ≠ “a pastor”.)
    • The consultant can also check how well the adapted text and the questions relate to each other.

    The consultant can also check how well the adapted text and the questions relate to each other.

    The adapted text should follow the style and exegetical decisions of the published text in that language.

  • When the text has been through exegetical checking and initial team review, it will be imported into the Bloom software. Bloom provides a template for the layout and helps to gauge the difficulty level in each story.

    TIPS:

    • Use the Bloom literacy levels as a guideline, not as an absolute. Keep in mind the unique requirements of the language.
    • Translate the front and back matter and the front and back cover.

    Bloom provides a template for the layout and helps to gauge the difficulty level in each story. 

  • After the text has been imported into Bloom, each story is reviewed in three rounds:

    1. The first round focuses on the natural choice of words, the flow of the story, and how the adapted text corresponds to the pictures.

    2. The second round checks the accuracy of the spelling, punctuation, and appropriate level of difficulty.

    3. The third round checks that the wording of the questions relates clearly to the adapted text.

    Each story is reviewed in three rounds

  • Once all stories and book elements have been adapted into the local language, test prints are prepared for final checking and community testing.

    TIP:

    The team should read through a trial print of the final version before community testing.

    Trial print

    Team is reading through a trial print

  • Community testing assesses how recently trained basic literacy learners

    • are able to read the Level 1 booklets
    • can answer the comprehension questions
    • understand how the corresponding pictures are understood

    Materials are tested in community.

Video about the Learn to Read the Bible materials development process

LRB RESOURCES