Literacy In The News :: Spanning North America
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Nashville Scene: 2.04.2021 by Kelsey Beyeler
Speaking
and writing well in your community’s dominant language is a privilege that’s
easy to take for granted when you’ve been doing it most of your life. But for
some, language is an everyday struggle. Marceline Sibomana, a refugee from
Burundi, is all too familiar with the difficulties language barriers bring.
When she came to Nashville 14 years ago,
she was only able to attend one month of school.
“I
had to know how to write my name in English, how to greet people in English,”
Sibomana says. “I didn’t have a chance to continue because the life was so
hard. I had to pay bills, I had a baby to take care of, so I dropped.”
Sibomana’s
story echoes those of many other Nashvillians, both immigrants and
nonimmigrants, who have had to prioritize survival over education. According to
the National Center for Education Statistics, one in eight adult Nashvillians
lacks basic literacy skills; meanwhile, the population of residents who have
immigrated to Nashville has grown from 2 percent to more than 12 percent over
the past two decades.
Though
many non-native English speakers can converse well, they may still need
assistance with advanced language topics or specialized instruction related to
their professions. The Nashville Public Library estimates that 250,000 adult Nashvillians
need educational assistance with English language learning, high school
equivalency testing and basic literacy skills. According to the NPL, not only
could increased literacy help more adults progress, it could also lower
unemployment, poverty and crime rates. READ
MORE ➤➤
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WBAY: 2.03.2021 by Kati Anderson
Literacy
Green Bay is celebrating 40 years of offering classes
to English Language learners, but are facing several challenges brought on by
the pandemic.
“When
the pandemic hit, we just didn’t have as many people enrolling and a lot of
people who were enrolled dropped off,” said Robyn Hallet, executive director of
Literacy Green Bay.
Classrooms
have been empty for almost a year after the non-profit closed its doors for the
first five months of the pandemic.
Getting
adult English language learners back on track, even virtually, has been a
struggle.
“A
lot of them are working whatever hours they can work. They’re busy helping
their children with their own academic advancements at home, just keeping up
with those basic needs and they put their own education on the back burner,”
said Hallet.
Now
the organization is seeing some students come back and the organization is
looking for volunteer tutors. WATCH 02:00
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TB Newswatch: 2.05.2021 by Doug Diaczuk
As
people’s lives are moving more and more online during the COVID-19 pandemic, a
local organization is continuing its tireless work to ensure everyone has the
skills needed to navigate this digitally dependent world.
Thunder
Bay Literacy Group is seeing significant demand for services
during the pandemic and continues to offer supports remotely to those in need.
“When
you are moving through this pandemic more and more, things are moving online,
which makes things challenging,” said Holly Karsten, executive director of
Thunder Bay Literacy Group.
“We
have had a huge increase in demand for computer classes. So people having to even
place a grocery order online or having to do their banking online for the first
time or helping their children access schooling online. We’ve had a really big
jump in demand for computer classes.”
Karsten
said for the first time in its history, Thunder Bay Literacy Group has moved
all its programming online due to COVID-19 restrictions. It offers classes in
basic reading, writing, math, computers, and test taking and these skills are
needed now more than ever.
“Literacy
skills are needed every day in work, home, school, and in the community and 40
per cent of Ontarians don’t have the literacy skills they need for work, home,
and life,” Karsten said. “We empower adults to reach their goals and improve
their quality of life.” READ MORE ➤➤
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