Alammar1

Abdulaziz Alammar
Professor Dutta
ENGL 1101
Feb 20
th
2014
Literacy concept.
Literacy is an interesting concept in my opinion. Even though I believe that most people
have their own definition of literacy, I think they have somewhat the same general idea. Perhaps
the most common definition of literacy is the ability to read and write. I think this is a general
definition. However there are different types of literacy depending on the field that is being
discussed.
I really enjoyed the movie The First Grader. I think it gives an excellent idea about the
importance of education and literacy. It shows how an old man would suffer and face all the
people against him just to learn how to read and write. Mzee Maruge is a 84 years old Kenyan
man who tried over and over until the school teacher agreed to let him to her crowded class room
to learn how to read and write. Some of the things that I think are the most important in the
movie are Maruges and Janes mothers sayings. For example, Maruge told the children in the
classroom that a goat cannot read, a goat cannot write its name. If you cannot read or write, you
are no better than a goat. Also, one of the inspiring things in the movie was about education.
Janes mother told her that Jane has to love education so she cha be better than her (her mother).
Janes mother told her that because as all parents, she wants the best future for her child.
Alammar2

While growing up, I was going to a religious school. The school had better Arabic classes
and Islamic classes of course. After middle school, I went to a regular high school. After meeting
new friends in high school, friends who attended their elementary and middle school in regular
(without religious focus) schools, I found that my classmates who attended religious schools, like
me, had better grammar and literacy levels than others. This of course had an important role in
my literacy life. My mother was the main reason I went to that kind of school; because she
wanted me and my older brother to be raised in a religious environment.
Every parent wants the best for their children. Thus, most parents do what they are
capable of to help and support their childrens future. I really wish to put my children in the same
road my parents put me in; because Im truly convinced that it is better than regular schools.
However, as most parents, I wish that I will be able to give them better than I had. For example,
one of the things that I plan to do to my children is to make them grow up multilingual because
Im really interested in languages. I wish I had learned many languages when I was younger
because it would have been much easier.
In conclusion, literacy is like torch lighting up our path in life. It can make all the
different in the world; and as Maruge said in the movie, education can finish the poverty in their
village. I think it may end the poverty in the whole world. Literacy can give a meaning for every
individuals life. Literacy is life.