Spanish Scrabble (Photo credit: Arthaey)
“Experts say it’s important for adults to first master reading and writing in a native language before jumping into English as a Second Language courses.”
Is it true? This is what the NY Daily News posted in one of its daily articles concerning English language learning. If we could think of it logically, how are we going to master and learn English language if we don’t even master our own native language?
A group of organizers called Unidad de Voluntarios para la Educacion de Adultos are compelled to teach Spanish in rural parts in Mexico and in Central America. In fact, more than a dozen other groups around the city also offer adult classes in Spanish literacy, as the news detailed since most students in the area had only a few years of school in their home country and never learned to read and write.
Actually, the very purpose these organizers are compelled to teach on the first place is the English language. However, just as the italic text posted above, since it is important for adults to first master reading and writing in their own native language before proceeding to learn English, they first teach the residents there how to become excellently fluent in Spanish language—their own native language. After the residents master their native language, the volunteers can then proceed to let them learn English language.
We can’t send people to English classes if they can’t read or write in Spanish,” said Gonzalo Mercado, executive director of El Centro del Inmigrante in Staten Island.
The said learning process has touched various lives, especially the women since they have the most number of students at all. Carmen Gonzalez, a 46-year-old Mexican immigrant is one of the women who availed the language learning program. She was so inspired to read a certain book with a Spanish translation, and she sharpened her skills through it.
This is indeed a very inspiring updates about language learning, right? Thankful are we for the volunteers who are compelled to teach foreign languages. They may not have the luxuries of a foreign language school, but they have the mission to let the people make the world smaller.
Don’t wait for such opportunity; this only comes seldom. Stand on your feet and choose to learn and master your own native language first, then proceed to the next level: the level of foreign language learning.
