Penny Banfield

I imagine a world where everyone writes their stories in English. Not because English is better than other languages, but because English is the language most people in the world are trying to learn.

My dream began more than twenty years ago after I came to Taiwan and discovered that Chinese speakers need an inordinate amount of time to learn English. What can be done in two years takes six or seven years and even then many people still do not understand when they hear English, although they can read a little.

I studied deep to understand what is necessary to become literate. What I learned made sense and I was amazed to discover that the methods that worked were set solidly in theories that evolved from what people actually do in the process of becoming literate.

I wrote a simple program and taught a few teachers how to do what I did. Then I watched their progress and asked them to comment on student success. Some of them opened up small tutoring centers in Canada. Then I took the program and training to Asia and taught a few teachers there.

I traveled to Inner Mongolia, India, and Taiwan presenting the pedagogy and demonstrating effective ways of helping students speak and read. I knew if teachers understood the principles of English Language Development, they could not only teach more effectively but also write grassroots programs that approached English from the student's cultural frame.

Life is a journey from unknowing to knowing. I graduated from high school without reading and writing skills enough to pass the SAT. I've journey through the process of adult literacy so that I might someday help others. I managed to make it through university and in the process discovered why I did not learn to read and write. And now, I share what I know with others hoping I can make a difference for children who live on the peripheral and do not have the luxury of teachers with specialized education for teaching English literacy. I am living my dream, and I love it.