Hugo,

1.     Illiteracy vs. LD
I teach Beg. ESL to recently arrived, mostly illiterate Latino students.  In my experience the lack of literacy emerges quite early- at the introduction of the alphabet and spelling of names or noticing a student has difficulty holding a pen or pencil.

Recognition of LD or handicaps tends to take  longer.  At times another student  has informed me of a classmate's difficulty.
Students seem more willing to admit illiteracy than LD/ handicap.  It is often a problem to locate needed services for students because of their lack of insurance or legal status.

2.   Given the time and the resources to teach literacy skills in the student's native language is sound practice.  Literacy in the first language facilitates literacy in the second.


  

  
 -------------- Original message ----------------------
From: "Hugo Galindo" <hgalindo at carlosrosario.org>

> Robin

> 

> I am in Washington DC and I am working with a large number of adult

> immigrants with very limited academic background and in many cases

> illiterate.

> 

> I have many questions but I would like to focus on two burning questions at

> this time:

> 

> 1) Where can we draw the line between illiteracy and learning disability?

> 

> 2) Is it pedagogically sound to teach how to read and to write in their

> native language before attempting to teach English as a second language?

> 

> Thank you for your thoughts and ideas.

> 

> Hugo

> 

> 

> 

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