Low Literacy Hispanics: A Case Study

1. Low Literacy Hispanics: A Case Study Mrs. Yolanda Medina Executive Director Centro Latino de Educación para Adultos Dallas Norte Literacy Texas Conference 2017

2. We acknowledge that being an adult learner is difficult, that being an adult second language learner is even more difficult, and that being a pre-literate adult second language learner must be short of a painful situation. Donna McGee, 1978 Pre-Literacy Definitions

3. “There is much research evidence to support the fact that the rate of English language acquisition is positively correlated with the literacy skills in one’s native language. Therefore, for the Latino population with limited literacy in Spanish, ESL classes can neither advance their literacy skills or their English language skills. For them, a more integrative approach, taking into account their literacy needs, as well as their second language needs is necessary.” Cummins, 1981

4. What is basic literacy? • The ability to read and write (Merriam-Webster Dictionary) • Ability to use printed and written information to function in society, to achieve one’s goals, and to develop one’s knowledge and potential (National Assessment of Adult Literacy) • Set of tangible skills – particularly the cognitive skills of reading and writing – that are independent of the context in which they are acquired and the background of the person who acquires them (Education for All Global Monitoring Report 2006 – UNESCO)

5. Why is basic literacy needed? • Adult learners who are illiterate in their native tongue cannot learn to read and write in a second language. They can converse. • Adult learners are required to possess a strong foundation that will allow the acquisition of a second language • Statistics collected consider illiterate those who cannot read and write in English regardless of their background – measured in English (English Proficiency Survey) • Our focus is on those illiterate or low literacy in their native language - Spanish • We need real engagement!!!

6. United States Census 2000-2010 Total Population in the U.S. in 2010308.7 million Hispanicor Latino (2010) (any race) 16% 50.5 million Not Hispanic or Latino (2010) 83.7% 258.2 million Not Hispanic or Latino (2000) 87.5% 246.1 million Hispanicor Latino (2000) (any race) 12.5% 35.3 million Total Population in the U.S. in 2000 281.4 million

7. Largest and fastest-growing • Spanish Speaking population grew 43%, which was 4 times the growth in the total population at 10 percent. • There are 50.5 million (2010 Census) people of Hispanic origin in U.S., compared to 22.4 million in 1990. • 75% of Hispanics live in 8 states: • California, Texas, Florida, New York, Illinois, Arizona, New Jersey, and Colorado • U.S. has the world’s third largest Hispanic population, after Mexico, and Colombia.

8. Mexican Population left behind in education (Mexican Census 2010) • Millions % • Population 112 • Population of 15 years or older 78.4 • Illiterate population 5.3 10 • Population with incomplete 10.1 19 • Elementary • Population with incomplete 16.4 24 • Middle School • Population left behind 31.9 53 • More than a half of the total population is 15 years old or older. • 60% of Mexicans are part of the working population.

9. Who are the Hispanic illiterate? • 78% are 40+ years old • 63% are 50+ years old • 8 in 100 are women • 6 in 100 are men • 1/3 are indigenous • Ashamed of being illiterate • Low self-esteem • Could be learning disabled • Can be very intelligent and creative • Have immediate and concrete goals • Many left school after first or second grade

10. How many in the U.S.? • There are 3.6 million illiterate Mexicans in the United States. These numbers do not include Central Americans (Honduras, El Salvador, Guatemala, Nicaragua, etc.) where illiteracy is higher due to civil wars. • Seven of every ten Mexican illiterate adults come from 9 states: Veracruz, Chiapas, Estado de México, Oaxaca, Puebla, Guerrero, Guanajuato, Michoacán and Jalisco).

11. Why is the education level so low in Mexico? • Lack of school facilities near student's communities, especially in rural areas. • Parents keep their children home to help with housekeeping or field activities. • Illiterate parents (20% of the population) • Parents can't afford to send children to school. • Lack of motivation to become teachers, due to low salaries. • Mistrust of the indigenous population towards government • 54 indigenous tribes with 54 different oral languages (some are also written languages)

12. Why are Mexican educational resources so important? • Reduce the achievement gap among students. • Accelerate the acquisition of the English language. • Offer cultural background and improve self-esteem. • Provide parents new tools to support their children's educational process and reduce the generation gap.

13. Setting up the Pl@zaComunitariaor Study Groups

14. Bilateral AgreementMexico-UnitedStates – November 1990 (Norm ISO 9001) • Establishes the Mexico-United States Commission of Educational and Cultural Exchange • Valid until 2020 with possibilities of continuation through addendums

15. Plaza Comunitaria - Objectives • Provide free of charge educational curriculums through new information technologies to Mexicans and Hispanics living in the USA. • Facilitate the accreditation and certification of Adult Basic Education to any Hispanic over 15 years old.

16. Mexican Agencies • INEA (InstitutoNacionalpara la Educación de Adultos/ Mexican National Institute for Adult Education) • SEP (Secretaría de Educación / Dept. of Education) • IME (Instituto de los Mexicanos en el Exterior / Institute for Mexicans Abroad) • CONEVYT (ConsejoNacional de Educaciónpara la Vida y el Trabajo / National Council for Education for Life and Work) • Consulado General de México / Mexican Consulate Offices in your area

17. What is a Plaza Comunitaria? • The Plaza Comunitaria is a physical space where educational services are offered to Mexicans and Hispanics free of charge using new technology. It requires: • Classroom area • Computer Lab • Basic Plaza program includes: • Basic literacy (learn to read and write) • Elementary level education • Middle School level education • Additional services that can be provided (Transition Program) • GED preparation courses • ESL classes • Citizenship classes • Basic computer skills • TOEFL preparation courses

18. Where can a Plaza Comunitaria be set up? • Corporations/Businesses • Governmental and nonprofit organizations • Community Centers • School Districts • Religious Centers • Libraries • Correctional Centers • Hispanic associations (cultural/business)

19. Plazas Comunitarias in the U.S. (July 2013)

20. Statistics of U.S. Plazas Comunitarias ( July 2013)

21. www.conevyt.org.mx

22. SASA – Registration and Testing Database

23. Curriculum - MEVYT

24. MEVYT (Modelo de Educación para la Vida y el Trabajo) • Basic literacy • 3 books • (La Palabra, Para Empezar, Matemáticas para Empezar • Elementary level • 7 books (Language Arts, Math, Health, Social Studies) • (Leer y Escribir, Saber Leer, Los Números, CuentasUtiles, Figuras y Medidas, Vamos a Conocernos, VivamosMejor) • 2 optional books (students select) • Total of 12 books to become certified by Mexico

25. Teacher’s resources (toolbox) • Box of letters (syllables) to play games • Proper notebooks (with dotted and solid lines) • Mirror (to them to see their expressions, movements of the mouth as they speak) • Lesson plan (know what you are to teach at each class, introduce new vocabulary, not more than 5 - 10 words at a time. • Word games – flash cards • Pencils and erasers • Play money

26. Be patient! • Give your adult learner a sense of safety and well-being. • Distraction-free setting • Trust and respect • “Just right” challenges – not too easy and not too hard • Create a culture of learning from mistakes • Connect lesson to life experiences • Make learning fun, playful and surprising • Games, puzzles, role-playing, new situations • Average time of learning: 2 years • Value x Expectation of Success = Motivation

28. Be respectful! • Respect the differences between adult learners • Motivate your students • Create trustworthy environment • Do not yell or call names

29. La Palabra (Book 1) • Reading readiness skills • Shapes • Sizes • Recognizing differences • Directionality • Left to right • Tracing

30. La Palabra - Chapters

31. La Palabra (cont.) • Letters (reading) • Vowel sounds • Syllables (consonant and vowel) – sounds • Using all 5 senses to memorize • See, say, hear, touch, (smell) • Names of letters not taught until student can read • Writing • Introduction to articles and pronouns • Yo, tu, el – la, el, los, las, un, una, unos

32. La Palabra (cont.) • Introduction to proper names • Their name • Pepe, Maria, Lupe, Texas • Starting a sentence with a capital letter • Introduction to punctuation • Writing very short sentences • Lupe ama a Pepe. • Supplementary reading (Lots) • Short stories • Short articles • Bible or other religious works • Read together • Provide word student cannot figure out

33. La Palabra (cont.) • Read to your student!! • They learn to love reading by being read to. • They will learn the right pace used in reading • Where to emphasize, where to pause, new vocabulary (word gaps) • Opportunity to discuss material for reading comprehension – ask questions • Short stories and short biographies are the best • Newspaper articles

34. La Palabra – Teacher’s Guide • Lesson plans per chapter • Each chapter presents two consonants and vowel • Explains how to teach writing • Includes supplementary reading materials

35. Teacher’s Guide

36. Teacher’s Guide

37. Para Empezar (Book 2) • Emphasizes on • Proper names • The family • Documents used • Birth certificates • Driver’s licenses • Bills • Medical prescriptions • Invitations • Writing letters, messages • Workforce literacy

38. La Palabra - Antología • Supplementary materials • Myths and legends • Introduction to the journal • Small paragraphs with personal information • Instructor provides the subject matter

39. Matemáticas para Empezar (Book 3) • Counting • Adding • Subtracting • Measurements • Money • Very basic geometry • Cardinal directionality (north, south, east, west) • Games (dominoes, calculators)

40. Workbook

41. Workbook

42. Testing • SASA • Database created by Mexico’s National Institute for Adult Education. • Must have a signed agreement with Mexican Consulate in your area • Used for registering students and testing purposes • For those who do not want or cannot sign the agreement, copies of the tests are included in your cd (along with the books). • Most exams are multiple choice questions • Access to pdf files of books and database are free (www.conevyt.org.mx)

43. Diagnostic Testing

44. Example of test ESPAÑOL 1. Escriba en la línea un enunciado sobre lo que ve en el dibujo. ____________________________________________ 2. Escriba un enunciado usando la palabra borrego. _______________________________________________ 3. Lea el enunciado y conteste la pregunta. María hizo de comer caldillo. ¿Qué hizo de comer María? ___________________________________________________ 4. Escriba un nombre propio. ____________________________________________ 5. Pida al aplicador que le dicte el enunciado. ___________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________

45. Problems Encountered • Unstable community • Immigration status • Variety of jobs • Absenteeism • Education is low priority for students • 30% of registered students are unaccounted for • Volunteer tutors turnaround (retention) • Continuous recruiting • Lack of day care • One-on-one tutors are required – Hispanics only • One - two years to complete the first book • The older the student, the more time it takes

46. Partnerships

47. Partnerships • Provide • Training • Recruitment • Teaching materials • Money • Marketing • Networking

48. Milagro – 46 years old • Entered the program in 2009 • Could not read or write at all • Salvadorian • Mother of two children • Three years for basic literacy – one-on-one tutoring • Two to finish Elementary level education - group • Two years to finish Middle School education -group • Registered for ESL classes, doing well • Taking Nutrition classes with Texas A & M Program • Can read to her children and help with homework • Works for Pappadeux restaurant and has been promoted

49. Berna – 51 years old • Entered the program in 2009 • Totally illiterate • Mexican • Basic literacy, three years – one-on-one tutoring • Two years, completed Elementary level education • Two years, completed Middle School level education • Was able to terminate an abusive marriage • Became a better mother and grandmother • Found love again (self-esteem) • Currently taking ESL classes as well as Nutrition classes

50. Angela – 84 years old • Entered the program in 2012 • Had completed third grade, elementary level education in Mexico • Came from a Ranch in Mexico • Completed elementary level education in 2014 • Completed Middle School level education in 2016 • Our oldest graduate • Seamstress by profession • Currently taking ESL classes and Nutrition classes (walks to the library for classes) • Became a U.S. citizen