Adult Biliteracy »

Offering an in-depth view of adult literacy/biliteracy by merging two fields—adult literacy and English as a Second Language—this volume brings to the forefront linguistic, demographic, sociocultural, workforce, familial, academic, and other issues surrounding the development of bilingualism and biliteracy by adults in the U.S. As such, it helps to fill a gap in the research literature on language development among adults which has traditionally placed more emphasis on the development of oral English. Most important, it brings to light issues that are integral to the success of immigrant populations in the U.S.—issues that politicians, policymakers, educators, and employers must place at the top of their agendas as immigration reform is being formulated and implemented.
Adult Biliteracy: Sociocultural and Programmatic Responses critically analyzes the assumptions that normalize monolingual and mono-literate approaches to adult education and to the teaching of English to immigrants and other language minorities in the U.S. By integrating theoretical principles with their applications, it furthers the discussion of the effects that bilingualism and biliteracy have on adult instruction. Applying research-based theoretical principles to the contexts in which adults learn, work, engage in civic participation, raise their children, and come together in community, this volume sheds light on the multiple ways in which adults use their first and second languages in the diverse sociocultural and educational contexts in which they function and learn in two languages.
Highly relevant for researchers, professionals, and students concerned with second-language education, adult education, and applied linguistics, this book will particularly interest those whose work focuses on the education of immigrant and national language minorities.

Preface     ix
Acknowledgments     xv
About the Editors     xvii
Contributors     xix
Adult Biliteracy Perspectives and Policies
Adult Bilingualism and Biliteracy in the United States Theoretical Perspectives   Klaudia M. Rivera   Ana Huerta-Macias     3
Adult Biliteracy and Language Diversity How Well Do National Data Inform Policy?   Mario Castro   Terrence G. Wiley     29
Photo Essay Literacy and Biliteracy Expressions in Environmental Print   Klaudia M. Rivera   Ana Huerta-Macias     57
Adult Biliteracy in Diverse Contexts
Adult Biliteracy in Community-Based Organizations Venues of Participation, Agents of Transformation   Klaudia M. Rivera     75
Workforce Education for Latinos A Bilingual Approach   Ana Huerta-Macias     97
A Crossroads Family Education Programs   Elizabeth Quintero     115
Academic Biliteracies for Adults in the United States   Ellen Skilton-Sylvester     131
Civics Education and Adult Biliteracy   James S. Powrie     155
Themes, Issues, Challenges
Capturing What Counts Language and Literacy Assessments for Bilingual Adults   Heide Spruck Wrigley     181
Issues and Future Directions   Ana Huerta-Macias   Klaudia M. Rivera     203
Author Index     215
Subject Index     219