Abstract
The purpose of this study was to investigate the predictability of reading time in English as a second language (L2) in Norwegian young adults (N=50) between the age of 19-30. Native language (L1) looking time and proficiency scores from spelling and vocabulary knowledge were used to predict L2 looking time in milliseconds per word (mspw). The results of the study reported that Norwegian readers exhibited slower reading speed in L2 English than in their L1 (M=235 versus M=218). L1 Norwegian looking time contributed with 59.9% to the prediction of L2 English looking time per word. These results have shown that L2 looking time and L1 looking time are in line with previous findings on the influence of native language in second language reading. L2 proficiency scores in vocabulary and spelling contributed with additional 18.9% to the prediction model. Years of education was not significant to determine looking time in second language as it presented a common variance of .3%. The proficiency scores on spelling and vocabulary knowledge, L1 looking time and years of education, significantly predicted L2 looking time (explained variance, R² =.793).