The Extensive Reading Foundation Language Learner Literature Awards 2024
Call for Nominations
Nomination Procedure
The Extensive Reading Foundation (ERF) invites publishers to nominate individual graded readers or other material for extensive reading for its 2024 Language Learner Literature Awards.
1. Eligible material
English-language graded readers, or other texts for extensive reading, copyright 2023
By graded reader, we mean an original or adapted book of nonfiction or fiction designed for second/foreign language students to read an extensive amount of text. A graded reader is often written to certain specifications–lexical, grammatical, or other– so that it is suitable for non-native English learners of a certain level of ability. It is assumed that learners spend most of their time with the book actually reading (as opposed to doing exercises, answering comprehension questions, etc.). A graded reader may contain exercises and questions at the end of the book, or between chapters. By readers, we are not referring to what are often called “reading skills” books.
Books published in the calendar year 2023 but bearing a 2024 copyright date are not eligible for the award. Please apply in the following year.
2. Award categories
There are six categories of the Award for individual books:
- Adolescents & Adults (4 categories)
- Beginner (up to 400 headwords)
- Elementary (401-800 words; CEF A1 & A2 levels)
- Intermediate (801-1500 words; CEF B1)
- Upper-Intermediate & Advanced (1501+ words; CEF B2, C1, C2)
- Young Learners (2 categories)
- Very Young learners (up to age 5/ 1st grade)
- Young Learners (ages 6-11 / 2nd -6th Grade)
For Adolescent and Adult readers, see the classification on the ERF Publishers Page for guidance. If you are unsure which category to nominate in or have other questions, please contact Cory Koby at corykoby@gmail.com
Please note:
1) Different publishers have different leveling schemes. If you have a book that crosses two categories (e.g., 280 words but is labeled CEFR A1), enter it in the category you feel most correctly represents the book’s level.
2) Nominations must have face validity. Books that were clearly published for the children’s market can NOT be considered for the lower levels of the Adolescents and Adults category.
3) Books written for native-speaking children rather than ELT audiences are normally not graded for syntactic or lexical complexity needed by foreign language learners and are thus ineligible for the LLL awards.
3. Number of books that may be nominated
A publisher may nominate up to two (2) books in each of the six categories (i.e., a maximum of 12 books per publisher).
4. Book format
In recent years we have had a number of inquiries about digital-only book submissions. If your book(s) has been published strictly in digital format, we will accept your submission in digital format. However, if the book has gone to print, we request that the paper book(s) be submitted for consideration. If you require guidance, please contact Cory Koby at corykoby@gmail.com
Please note that the nominated books must be published (paper or digital) in book format with a cover and distinct pages. Submissions failing to meet this minimum standard will be disqualified.
5. Judging criteria
We recognize that an award such as this is subjective. Among the criteria jurors will use in choosing the finalist books are:
- Intrinsic interest in theme or topic
- Readability for language learners
- Quality of writing
- Appropriateness and quality of illustration and graphic presentation
- Production factors including jacket design, general design, typography, standard of editing, and physical durability of the book
- The evaluation of the book by teachers and students who provide input on the ERF LLL Award Feedback page.
Jurors are looking for nonfiction and fiction books that will engage and satisfy the learner; in short, books that are “a good read.”
6. Procedure for nominating a book
1. Send four (4) copies of each nominated book to Cory Koby, Jury Liaison, to be received by December 15, 2023. His address is:
Prof. Cory Koby (Attn: ERF LLLA)
Tezukayama Gakuin University
4-2-2 Harumidai
Minami-ku, Sakai-shi, Osaka
590-0113
JAPAN
Phone: +81 (0)80-8205-8018
2. Fill out this Google form https://tinyurl.com/LLLA2024-Submissions for EACH nominated book (maximum 2 per category) and upload a high-resolution image of the book’s cover with each form. If your book is a finalist, this will be important for publicity.
7. Finalist Evaluation Program
In general, three books in each category will be selected as Finalists (in exceptional years, if submissions in a given category are not sufficient to nominate three Finalists, the jury may elect to choose only two). The publishers of these Finalist books are requested to participate in the ERF Finalist Evaluation Program. For the program, 10 representative teachers from around the world are selected to receive two copies of each finalist book for reading and evaluation by their students. Publishers are requested to send their finalist title(s) to the teachers by air post or courier service. This will be in March 2024.
8. Nominations deadline
Nominated books must be received by December 15, 2023. Please send four copies of each nominated title.
NB: Nominated books must be copyrighted 2023
Finalists will be announced online in April and may be included in other announcement events.
Winners will be announced at the end of August on this site, in the ELT press, and at language teaching conferences around the world.
Thank you in advance for participating and good luck in the contest.