Literacy:
Spanning the U.S.
Journey To Literacy
Kelo Land: 6.14.2015 by Perry Groten
The Sioux Falls literacy
non-profit known as REACH
has successfully completed a social
media campaign to raise thousands of dollars to publish a book. The book is titled "Journey to
Literacy" and profiles many of the adults who are learning to read and
write with the help of REACH tutors.
"We'll just go
through each of the letters one at a time," tutor Roxanne Weber said.
Letter by letter,
Nianchock Dehl is gaining a grasp of the English language through her weekly
tutoring sessions at REACH in Sioux Falls.
Dehl is a native of
South Sudan who came to the United States in 2007 to escape that civil war-torn
region of Africa.
"We have a war
going on so, when you have a chance to go to a different country, with your
kids, that's why we left our country," Dehl said.
The need to read is a
necessity for Dehl.
"I have
medicine," Dehl said. "I have to read the back of the medicine."
Reading skills many
learn as children can be a challenge to learn as a grownup.
"As as adult,
you're already trying to deal with all the other struggles of adulthood. On top of it, you're dealing with something
that seems pretty natural to anyone who has those skills," REACH tutor
Roxanne Weber said.
Dehl is one of the
adult learners featured in REACH's new book that chronicles the challenges and
triumphs along their Journey to Literacy.
READ MORE !
Literacy tutors help open 'whole
world' through reading
Adult
literacy program tutors at Manitowoc library help connect learners with their
dreams
Herald Times: 6.17.2015 by Phillip Bock
Etched
in the wall above where Carolyn Martin and Der Thao meet are the words
"The whole world opened to me when I learned to read" — a message
that resonates with the tutor and her English-language learner.
"I
love to read, and reading is so essential to anything you accomplish,"
Martin, a tutor in the One-to-One Adult Literacy program at the Manitowoc Public Library, said. "I
think reading is so important, and I wanted to see if there was something I
could do to help others read better."
Martin
and Thao have been meeting several evenings a month for the past year as Thao
works toward understanding English and attaining her High School Equivalency.
"I
want to get a better job for myself and help myself," Thao said.
"Being in the United States, I want to know a lot more English and
understand people around me."
The
One-to-One Adult Literacy Partners program at the library provides
individualized literacy tutoring with the goal of helping adults "develop
and enhance their skills in reading, writing, comprehending and speaking
English," according to the program's website.
"Some
of the bravest people I've met are adult learners who walk through the library
doors and ask for a tutor," literacy coordinator Michelle Krajnik said.
"That's huge."
Citizenship
Requires Study
Altus Times:
6.25.2015
Do you remember how many
amendments the Constitution has? What kind of government does the United States
have? Who is the Chief Justice of the United States now?
These are the kinds of
questions Granite resident Alicia Bernard, a native of Mexico, answered
correctly on a written U.S. history and government test for citizenship at the
US Citizenship and Immigration Services in Oklahoma City on February 26. The
examination also included an interview over these questions to determine that
she could speak English as Spanish was her native language.
Because of her passing
these examinations along with a background check and having been a legal
permanent resident for at least five years, Mrs. Bernard took her citizenship
oath on April 7th. She, along with all the other 44 immigrants from 28
countries, pledged allegiance to the United States in the ceremony at the U.S.
Department of Homeland Security in Oklahoma City. Her husband Robert Bernard
and their daughter Mercy were able to attend the ceremony.
“I am very happy and
feel different in some ways as a new American,” said Mrs. Bernard. “After the
ceremony, my daughter gave me an American flag charm for my bracelet that I
wear to remind me of this great privilege. I am very thankful to all who helped
me.”
Alicia only spoke
Spanish and had no driver’s license when she was able to visit the Texas border
towns, including El Paso, with a passport for limited periods of time. While in
El Paso, she met her future Army husband. In 1992, she became a permanent
resident with her “green card”.
Alicia’s road to US
citizenship began February 19, 2014 when she and her husband visited the Great Plains Literacy Council at the Altus Public Library. READ MORE !
English
as a Second Language Classes Offered at the Houston Public Library Through the
American Dream Starts @ Your Library®
City of Houston – Press Release: 6.29.2015
The Houston Public Library (HPL) is helping
non-English speaking Houston residents integrate into the American culture so
they can fulfill their American dream. HPL is providing free English as a
Second Language (ESL) classes at various neighborhood libraries and at
community facilities throughout the city. These classes are being made possible
through the American Dream Starts @ your Library®
literacy initiative grant. The American
Dream Starts @ your Library® program is in direct support of the Houston Public
Library’s mission, vision, goals and service priorities that include life
skills and literacy learning.
Houston is the fourth
largest city in the United States and is considered one of the most culturally diverse communities in the
country with approximately 90 languages spoken. Foreign residents in this city
are immigrants from all over the world that are here to achieve their American
dream, but without speaking and understanding English they may never achieve
that dream. HPL knows that it’s crucial for them to learn the language, so it
is providing the necessary English literacy skills, as well as playing a vital
role in improving the lives of those it serves so that they can achieve their
goals. The classes are designed to help them to communicate clearly, continue
their education, improve their job skills, help their children with their
school work, and become more productive residents. This service is part of the Library’s mission
to link people to the world through literacy learning and life skills. Classes
are free and open to the public. For more information call 832-393-1533. READ MORE !
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