Literacy means an individual's capacity to use language and pictures to communicate ideas and thoughts to other people. It involves the ability to speak and understand a language in its spoken form, including reading and writing using that specific language. Especially when an individual is living in a foreign country that speaks a language other than the individual's mother tongue, then it is expected that at the very least, the individual could communicate using the English language. This is the reason children of foreigners living in America attend English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL), which is very much similar with English as Secondary Language (ESL). Both programs teach English to students or other nationals in the United States either to improve their English language skills or to learn the language all together. Although learning the language may seem a small act considering that the learners are already in a country whose native tongue is English, non-English speakers experience social injustices and inequality issues in states such as Georgia.
Back in 2009, reports claiming that the state of Georgia intends to cut its support of providing free ESOL classes to illegal immigrants arose, putting hundreds of students with illegal status in limbo. According to the report, before allowing prospective students to enroll in ESOL or ESL classes, questions regarding their immigration status will comprise one of the requirements for eligibility into the course. The same is true if students attend ESL as a requirement to pass the GED. Thus, undocumented student enrollees are not allowed to take the courses, unless they pay for the ESOL or ESL classes (Martinez).
Thus, this means lesser opportunities for undocumented immigrants when it comes to their education especially if they cannot understand the books they read or have no capacity to express themselves verbally in school. In addition, it would further equate to lower SAT scores for undocumented immigrants who will lack the proper training in English. Those who intend to find part-time jobs will have difficulty in finding one if they do not have the proper language skills. It could also result to development of cliques and further racial segregation if they continue not to be conversant in American English.
Works Cited
Martinez, Judith. "Georgia Law Cuts Free ESL Courses for Immigrants." Americans for Legal Migration. Web. 2 May 2013.
Minnesotans for Sustainability. "Breaking the Piggy Bank: How Illegal Immigration is Sending Schools into the Red." Minnesotans for Sustainability. Web. 3 May 2013.
