In India, one of the fastest-growing economies in the world, there is an increasingly strong connection between English literacy and job opportunities. High-school math and science examinations, as well as entrance exams for professional degrees in such areas as medicine and engineering, are all conducted in English. Without English proficiency, rural youth see few opportunities for future success, and they often drop out of school as a result.
Recognizing the importance of English literacy in India’s growing economy, LeapForWord (LFW) uses a multipronged approach to increase English proficiency among rural children, thereby opening doors to success in school, work, and life. The organization offers English language instruction in schools across five districts in the state of Maharashtra and also runs two English learning centers that provide English language lessons, as well as training for older youth so that they can become English teachers themselves. Communities nominate local youth for the teaching program, and LFW then offers them English lessons while simultaneously training them to teach English to younger children. LFW’s curriculum and methodology—which focus on having students understand the process of reading, rather than relying on rote learning—have been proven to work in completely English-illiterate environments.
LFW has trained more than 2,000 teachers and nearly 12,000 students to date and is on track to create India’s first English-literate village at Shipur, Maharashtra