Because of its outstanding work, the Haitian Multi-Service Center was chosen as one of nine exemplary adult ESL programs in the United States in a U.S. Department of Education study in 1991. Their efforts have resulted in a variety of benefits to the Haitian population in the community.

USING THE NATIVE LANGUAGE AS A BRIDGE TO THE TARGET LANGUAGE

The Center has made a real contribution to our understanding of how second language literacy skills can be acquired by groups which share a linguistic and cultural background, by demonstrating the efficacy of learning to be literate in the native language, then in the target language. Educators at this Center recognized and documented the motivational power of learning to read and write in one's first language before taking on that task in a second language. They have remarked that it is interesting "how reliable our techniques are." This may be because they are "interested in the process of development and the progress of students' literacy in their first language, and seeing how this literacy influences learning capacity."

ACHIEVING MATH SKILLS

Improved performance by ESL students once they have become literate and learn to read and write in their first language is one indication of the success of the program. But the program does not stop with reading and writing. One student in an open class discussion detailed his frustration at life as an illiterate. He stressed particularly his need to know numbers so that he would not be cheated. This led to a math component being added to the native literacy class.

MOVING TOWARDS EMPLOYMENT

About 80% of the students come to the Center unemployed and seeking employment. Because the literacy program is linked into so many other services and programs, learners can see how their skills will be useful to them in the future, whether at work or in higher education. They can also feel empowered by helping other learners with skills such as math or word processing.

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