[AAACE-NLA] GED test in Spanish

[Tara Ramsey]

Our successful students have completed their secon or third year of secundaria.  As far as knowledge is concerned secundaria in Mexico covers most of what people see on the GED--even though in chronological age it is equivlant to middle school/junior high.  Those who have had some of preparatoria are as successful but are ready to take the test more quickly.

Miriam Kroeger <makroeger at cox.net> wrote:Question, for those who have successful GED in Spanish programs - what is the educational background of your successful students?  primeria, secondaria, prepa ????????????
-Miriam Kroeger
Arizona
-----Original Message-----
From: aaace-nla-bounces at lists.literacytent.org [mailto:aaace-nla-bounces at lists.literacytent.org]On Behalf Of Kathleen Muro
Sent: Friday, August 13, 2004 11:44 AM
To: National Literacy Advocacy List sponsored by AAACE
Subject: Re: [AAACE-NLA] GED test in Spanish


The Spanish GED is a big boost in finding a job. Many employers use the GED as a screening device for job applicants. They often want oral English proficiency and a GED, and a Spanish GED is no barrier to that. Likewise, an individual can meet federal ability to benefit standards to get financial aid to go to college with a Spanish GED.

I think it is a mistake for WIA to refuse to support the Spanish GED. We have no official language in the US, (so how is this not a violation of one's rights?) and the existance of the Spanish and French versions of the GED test is testimony to the large numbers of returning WWII veterans who were language dominant in Spanish or French. Good enough to die for the US, but not good enough to get into government-sponsored job training programs? Doesn't this apply now with our present military involvements? I cannot believe the military, for whom the GED was created, would be happy with this.

Here on the border, I was one of the first advocates of Spanish GED and programs I worked in generated thousands of new GED graduates using Spanish GED. Before, a Spanish language student would sit in a class for English GED for several years without ever passing the GED, and usually dropped out in frustration with nothing. With a Spanish GED program, such a student would earn a GED in two or three months, and move on to college, ESL, or job training, with the added advantage that many employers would now take a look at them for a job, rather than screening them out.

I see this as one more step in proving the irrelevance of most of WIA to the real world. (It has already been demonstrated that federal job training programs have no impact on employment and earnings.) It is unfortunate that Adult Ed funds will be wasted keeping discouraged students in classes for long periods of time for an English GED, when they could already be moving on to their next educational or employment accomplishment. Finally, this is an effective reduction in seat space for everyone else.

One last point: we discovered that it was too confusing for students to combine Spanish GED with ESL, so we did them sequentially. With the Spanish GED, attainment was rapid (two to three months) and almost universal, so earning it was a major ego boost to the student. Given the frustrating task of learning English, which is a 'long haul' effort, it was beneficial for students to attain a major accomplishment so quickly.

Kathleen Bombach
El Paso, Texas & Sunland Park, New Mexico


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