What is Literacy?

Defining English literacy is a difficult and contentious task. In simple terms, the question 'What is literacy?' often prompts the answer 'the ability to read and write.' However, literacy is more accurately characterized as the ability to effectively use language to accomplish your goals in the social setting you are in. In short, literacy is perhaps the most important skill in modern society: those whose reading and writing skills are not sufficient for success in education or employment will be left behind.  Children who enter the school system with a level of English literacy substantially lower than that of their peers are often termed English language learners or English learners, and research has established that their entire future depends on whether they make up this literacy deficit. 

At GLEN World, our focus is on increasing English literacy among children, particularly those for whom English is not the primary language spoken at home. While English literacy is important for anyone within the United States, children have the most to lose by falling behind in literacy metrics. Students who are not proficient in English reading by 3rd grade are 400% less likely to graduate high school. This makes early literacy vitally important for any young English learner.

GLEN World is a nonprofit organization committed to helping English learners develop their language skills and succeed in education. With our research-driven educational content, we supply proven educational programs to children free of charge. Our content is designed to help English learners develop their language skills with or without supervision. Whether you're an educator or a concerned parent, visit our website and learn what GLEN World is doing to close the gaps in English literacy.

About GLEN World

GLEN World is a nonprofit organization on a mission to scale early English literacy so that every child has access to the educational and economic opportunities it unlocks. 

GLEN World has developed GLEN Learn, a research-based personalized learning app for early English literacy, designed to help children develop reading skills via a series of guided exercises, engaging stories, and rhymes. GLEN Learn's content design is based on Instructed Second Language Acquisition research, targeting the fundamental skills required for literacy: vocabulary knowledge, recognition of sounds, and recognition of spelling. GLEN Learn's learning modules reinforce each other as they target these fundamental skills. GLEN World also offers GLEN Books, a mobile app with a rich collection of beautifully illustrated and warmly narrated storybooks that foster a love for reading in children.

Our team includes seasoned educators, authors, animators, established graphic artists, and engineers. A unique strength is our connection with two premier research universities, the University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB), and Carnegie Mellon University (CMU), with the close involvement of faculty with expertise spanning second language acquisition, education, cognition, engineering, and machine learning. Learn more by visiting our website.