[NIFL-ESL:6785] Re: ESL and literacy programs

From: Pauline McNaughton (pmcnaughton@language.ca)
Date: Sat Dec 01 2001 - 20:48:25 EST 

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Subject: [NIFL-ESL:6785] Re: ESL and literacy programs
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Re: [NIFL-ESL:6783] ESL and literacy programs
By definition, ESL Literacy is for individuals who are typically a) not literate in their first language because their first language does not have a written code or if it does, they had absolutely no opportunity to go to school b) semi literate because they had limited formal education, possibly because of lack of access, interruption caused by war, family responsibilities or some other disruption.  Other ESL learners who find themselves in ESL literacy programs are those who have difficulty keeping up with the pace of a regular ESL program, for example seniors, or those who may have learning disabilities or other kinds of learning difficulties, or those who are literate in a non-Roman writing system and are having difficulty making the transition to the Roman system.

So the answer to your question, how many can read and write in their own language? It would vary greatly from class to class. Depends on where the students are coming from  e.g. from countries with low literacy rates, limited to no public education system.

If you are referring to general literacy classes i.e. adult basic education - often if there are no ESL literacy programs available locally, students who need literacy skill development can be referred to adult basic education, usually after they have acquired a functional level of speaking and listening English.  These students may benefit from the more structured, literacy skill development focus of an ABE class, rather than a mainstream ESL class.

Yes, learners do you use literacy programs as a way to learn English - but usually only because they need literacy or upgrading along with language skills, or because appropriate ESL classes are not available so they make do, or because they have lived here for some time, still need language development but without the newcomer/settlement focus.

Not sure what you mean by demographics - or how it would affect this.  Do you mean demographics within the ESL community? or urban versus rural?  In less populated areas, there are usually fewer immigrants, and if they need ESL there only option may be an adult basic education class.  In the cities they are more likely to find a range of ESL programs that will suit their needs.  It also depends on where current immigration is coming from e.g. in the early 90's there was a huge influx of Somalians into the Ottawa area (where I live) and we had many ESL literacy programs.  Currently there is a much lower demand for ESL literacy because there is no mass refugee in pouring from a country with low literacy levels.

I am currently enrolled in a class about Literacy as of my library science program. I have a few questions regrading ESL learners and literacy programs. I am hoping that someone can relate some information, experiences and/or observations so I can better understand this topic.
 
In a literacy program, how many learners have a primary language other than english? Of these learners how many can read and write in their own language? Do learners use literacy programs as a way to learn english? Does demographics affect this?
 
Thank you very much for your help,
Theresa Anton-Walsh
tantonsjsu@hotmail.com
SLIS student

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