Ignorance is slavery to others, ignorance guarantees exploitation. Without the ability to read, how can anyone empower themselves with knowledge?

In any society today, literacy— the ability to read and to write— is the most fundamental and liberating empowerment of human capital.

Since 1970, world illiteracy has been cut in half. Today, UNESCO estimates that about 82% of all humans can read and write.

But in a population rising steadily, now passing 7 billion, that leaves how many humans in the darkness, helpless and ignorant? Over one billion!

What is the greatest gift you can give to another person? How can you unlock the doors that keep fellow humans from the world of learning? Teach them to READ and WRITE!

UNESCO defines literacy as the “ability to identify, understand, interpret, create, communicate, compute and use printed and written materials associated with varying contexts.”

Literacy involves a continuum of learning in enabling individuals— to achieve their goals, to develop their knowledge and potential, and to participate fully in their community and wider society.

Who can bring the light of literacy, to the billion unfortunates living blindly in intellectual darkness?

Adult literacy (and remedial education) teachers!

Worldwide, literacy teachers instruct adults and out-of-school youths in reading, writing, speaking English, and math— skills to equip them to solve problems, improve their job opportunities, and further their education.

In the USA (illiteracy is endemic globally) the instruction provided by literacy teachers can be divided into three principal categories— ABE, ASE, ESOL.

Adult basic education (ABE)— for adults whose skills are either at or below an eighth-grade level.

Adult Secondary Education (ASE)— for students who wish to obtain their General Educational Development (GED) certificate or other high school equivalency credential.

ESOL or ESL— English literacy instruction for adults with limited proficiency in English, or skilled as a second language.

Many students in these adult education classes traditionally have been those who did not graduate from high school or who passed through school without acquiring the knowledge needed to meet their educational or career goals. Increasingly, students in these classes are immigrants or other people whose native language is not English.

In the USA, Educators who work with adult English-language learners are usually called teachers of English as a second language (ESL) or teachers of English to speakers of other languages (ESOL).

Worldwide, because the literacy and language teacher and students often do not share a common native language, creativity is an important part of fostering communication in the classroom and achieving learning goals.

Literacy teachers, everywhere on the globe, must be sensitive to differences in culture and backgrounds.

Teachers at all levels assist their students with finding additional resources in the community. This may include helping them find community resources such as healthcare, job placement agencies or other educational institutions for additional education, like community colleges or other postsecondary institutions.
?Many adult literacy and remedial education teachers may instruct adults in reading, writing, language, and even basic math.

Nearly all USA programs require teachers to have at least a bachelor’s degree, but some require a master’s degree in adult education or ESOL instruction. Some States require teachers to have a public school teacher license or a license specifically for adult education teachers.

Many colleges and universities offer master’s degrees or graduate certificates in teaching adult education or ESOL— classes on teaching adults, using technology to teach, working with learners from a variety of cultures, and teaching adults with learning disabilities.

Worldwide, language skills are critical. ESOL teachers need courses or training in second-language acquisition theory and linguistics.

US teachers of adult literacy and remedial education held about 96,000 jobs in 2008. Many of the jobs are Federally funded— with additional funds coming from State and local governments.

Employment of adult literacy and remedial education teachers is expected to grow by 15 percent through 2018! Much faster than the average for all occupations!

Why? As employers increasingly require a more literate workforce, workers’ demand for adult literacy, basic education, and secondary education classes rises sharply.

Median hourly wages of adult literacy and remedial education teachers were $22.26 in May 2008.

The middle 50 percent earned between $16.65 and $29.78.

The lowest 10 percent earned less than $12.48, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $38.95.

Literacy training affects other highly important educational fields—

• Counselors
• Interpreters and translators
• Social workers
• Teachers—kindergarten, elementary, middle, and secondary
• Teachers—postsecondary
• Teachers—preschool, except special education
• Teachers—special education
• Teachers—vocational

Since employment to 2018 is expected to grow faster than average, the demand for for literacy teachers of English should be amazing.

Do you want to teach your language to speakers of other languages?

Do you feel drawn to teach non-native students and workers (wherever you live)?

Do you want to join the struggle— to liberate the illiterate billion humans of our world, wherever they may be found?

Literacy is the great equalizer of global peoples. Literacy is the door to learning. And learning is the door to opportunity.

Go get your degree in Adult Education. And become that living door!

Worldwide, information on adult literacy, basic and secondary education programs, and teacher certification requirements is available from goverrnment departments of education, local school districts, and literacy resource centers. Information also may be obtained through local religious and charitable organizations.

In the USA, for information on adult education and family literacy programs, contact:

• The U.S. Department of Education, Office of Vocational and Adult Education, Potomac Center Plaza, 400 Maryland Ave. SW., Washington, DC 20202. http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ovae/index.html

For information on teaching English as a second language, contact:

• The Center for Adult English Language Acquisition, 4646 40th St. NW., Suite 200, Washington, DC 20016. http://www.cal.org/caela