My answer depends on whether you are talking about a child learning to read for the first time or an adult learning a second language.

In the case of a child it is best for them to read out loud to someone. They benefit from the corrections an adult can provide as well as the encouragement to keep going. This last point is important as learning to read can be very frustrating at first and often times kids want to give up. Having an adult present to not only coach, but motivate the new reader is essential.

In the case of an adult learning to read a second language I think simply reading out loud is enough. Adults can also get frustrated when learning to read, but have more motivation and discipline to struggle through the difficult parts. Having an audience may be distracting and possibly embarrassing and so I don't think it is right for everyone.

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