There are a number of African languages (in addition to the 2 main Somali Bantu languages) that as yet have no written form. Depending on the number of refugees a program serves the percentage would change. Our program is refugee specific so for the past year Somali Bantu have been the majority of participants in our classes - as high as 95% in some classes.


Steven J. Rainey, Director
English Language Center
1607 W Jefferson St.
Boise, ID 83702
(208) 336-5533 ext. 269


>>> pwaynerogers at yahoo.com 11/03/05 08:19PM >>>

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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