True, Paul, but not all Mexicans have the resources to
attend school. Although the education is free, the
textbooks and transportation are not.  (Or family
constraints determine that it is not important for
certain children to go to school - especially girls. 
This seems especially true for my students over 40.) 
A lot of my Central American and Mexican students had
interrupted schooling.  Many are preliterate or have a
very low level of literacy in their first language,
which does make it more difficult for them to develop
literacy in English - not impossible, just more
difficult (and frustrating for them as well.)  Just
like people who cannot read and write in English in
the US, many of these students are embarassed to admit
that they can't read and write in Spanish and it takes
a little observation and detective work to figure it
out.  When I confront a student, I make sure they
understand that I am not criticizing or blaming them,
but that in order to help them I need to know what
they are able to do in Spanish. 

I debate with myself about whether it is better to
encourage the students to learn to read and write in
Spanish first or continue with English.  I usually
have a conference with the student to talk about these
options and let them make the decision.

--- PAUL ROGERS <pwaynerogers at yahoo.com> wrote:


> In a previous post, someone mentioned the following:

> 

> Though there is an ever-growing population of ESL

> learners particularly adolescents and adults who are

> preliterate (meaning that their L1 does not have a

> written form).  Which means that this population

> does

> not have the opportunity of being literate in their

> L1.  

> 

> I am interested in knowing which people do not have

> a

> language with a written form.

> And what percentage of ESL students fall into this

> catgegory?

> 

> In my experience, most Spanish speakers are very

> literate. Mexico, for example, has a fairly decent

> public education system.

> Paul Rogers

> 

> 

> 

> 	

> 		

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