This digest examines reading approaches, identifies characteristics of fluent readers, and makes suggestions for developing reading instruction for adult English language learners. The reading instruction methods described include the phonics, psycholinguistic, interactive, and critical literacy approaches. Fluent readers are defined as those who read with a purpose, read quickly, use a variety of strategies, interact with the text, evaluate the text critically, expect to understand the text, and usually read silently. Drawing on recent research in reading instruction, seven general reading proficiency activity types are described, including: use of texts that meet student needs and are interesting; early instruction in letter recognition and sound-symbol correspondences, particularly for students not schooled in the Roman alphabet; teaching a variety of reading strategies; use of prereading activities; teaching evaluation of texts for implicit values and assumptions; use of texts containing familiar words and grammatical structures; and use of extensive reading. Contains 18 references. (Adjunct ERIC Clearinghouse on Literacy Education) (MSE)