English Illiteracy Study

[CajunCenturion]

Study: 11 Million in U.S. Illiterate in English

Details of the study may be found here: National Center for Education Statistics

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[grooke]

That sounds like a good recruiting ground for Business Analysts ;-)

Gil

 

[Thadeus]

Yes, but are they literate in some language? I mean, it is one thing to claim these people then "lack the skills to handle many everyday tasks" and another to say we have 3 million people that are flat out illiterate and another 8 million that require Spanish or Asian language forms, etc.

Not that I believe the US ought to support more than one language in any official capacity... just wondering if this finding is as xenophobic as it appears on the surface.

~Thadeus

 

[Sinlaeshel]

To answer the above.

The adults deemed illiterate in English include people who may be fluent in Spanish or another language but cannot comprehend English text at its most simple level.

"Eleven million people is an awful large number of folks who are not literate in English, and therefore are prevented access to what America offers," said Russ Whitehurst, director of the Institute of Education Sciences at the Education Department.

Also: I find it amusing that a woman with the last name 'Spellings' is quoted in an article about illiteracy.

 

[Thadeus]

Sorry - Story continued below - is beyond my reading ability Apparently I have 10,999,999 friends out there somewhere...

~Thadeus

 

[grande]

Okay, so my Nonna, born and raised in Italy, speaks fluent English, but can't read/write in English very well. Would she be considered illiterate?

Also, my Grandfather dropped out of school in grade 7. He doesn't understand many long, complex, or rarer (more rare?) words. Is he illiterate?

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Just call me Captain Awesome.

 

[CajunCenturion]

Since literacy is a measure one's ability to read and write a language and fluency is a measure of one's ability to hear and speak a language, one could score well on the fluency scale, but miserably on the literacy scale.

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To get the most from your Tek-Tips experience, please read FAQ181-2886
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[SkipVought]

My grandfather immigrated from Hungary before WWI with just a few dollars in his pocket.

There was no bi-lingual anything, no ESL. Learned to speak and read English himself. Assimilated, although his family had a conclave of Hungarian friends & acquaintences.

From a blacksmith to a machinist, raised a family of 6.



Our current PC approch to this problem, ISOLATES people and keeps them from becoming ASSIMILATED AMERICANS.

Skip,
[sub]
[red]Be Advised![/red]
The band of elderly oriental musicians, known as Ground Cover, is, in reality...
Asian Jasmine![/sub]

 

[CRilliterate]

Here is my observation:
Immigrants are trying to reach same-or-better life level.
According to what they are in USA I can say what they were back there, at homeland. It is 99% true for all.

About 1% of immigrants are the people who rise above or fall below the level they were at before immigration.
Hidden talent or sudden sickness can affect life.

 

[sleipnir214]

According to what they are in USA I can say what they were back there, at homeland. It is 99% true for all.

I'm sorry, but I'm having difficulty parsing that sentence.



Want the best answers? Ask the best questions!

TANSTAAFL!!

 

[jebenson]

This is on-topic...sort of:

My father-in-law appeared on "Good Morning America" in the early 1970's ('71 or '72 I think), because he was the first researcher ever to produce a "x percent of Americans are functionally illiterate" statistic. My wife remembers her mother keeping her home from school that day so she could see her father on television.

I hope this post doesn't count towards my 15 minutes of fame, albeit fame by association.

I used to rock and roll every night and party every day. Then it was every other day. Now I'm lucky if I can find 30 minutes a week in which to get funky. - Homer Simpson

 

[SilentAiche]

CR,

I disagree. If only one percent of new Americans (immigrants) rose above their pre-immigration status, the US would not have become what it has.

For example, millions of Mexicans come to the US, some even illegally, to earn money to send home to their families. If 99% of them were no better off, why are they here in such huge numbers? And doing very difficult jobs, I might add.

If someone comes here, they have a chance to make it big. Sky's the limit, and all that. If, however, your talent takes you no further than serving Egg McMuffins, I suggest comparing the wages of serving McFood to similar wages back home.

Tim

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[SkipVought]

In my opinion, it does not make a difference if a person, immigrant or citizen of the USA, cannot read English and COMMUNICATE intelligently in everyday English, it will be very difficult to participate in the American Dream.

Skip,
[sub]
[red]Be Advised![/red]
The band of elderly oriental musicians, known as Ground Cover, is, in reality...
Asian Jasmine![/sub]

 

[2ffat]

<slightly off-topic>
I'm surprised that someone from England hasn't pointed out that we Americans haven't spoken English for centuries. ;-)
</slightly off-topic>

James P. Cottingham
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[sup]I'm number 1,229!
I'm number 1,229![/sup]

 

[columb]

Before I moved into IT I used to work in an Unemployment Benefit office. Not surprisingly our customers were, in general, from the lower strata of society. I soon learnt to ask 'Do you have difficulties with forms?' as a euphemism for 'Are you illiterate'. Amongst the many ways in which that job opened my eyes was the significant number of people who were functionally illiterate. With a population the size of the US with its extremes of wealth and poverty 11M does not seem extreme to me.

Columb Healy

 

[CRilliterate]

SilentAiche,
sorry I meant to say that there is insignificant percent of people who were unable to read in home country and became nobel laureate in US - this type of extreme, but I have seen similar, it is possible...probably even in less then 1% but possible...


Also children of immigrants will be considered by me as American wealth, rarely first wave. Parents are spending on average 10+ years to get up on their feet, so kids will be our best bet. Cheers