Functional Illiteracy: A Growing Global Concern
The topic of functional illiteracy is gaining increased attention worldwide. While individuals may possess basic reading and writing skills, they struggle to comprehend and utilize information effectively. This issue goes beyond simply not knowing words; it's about the inability to process and apply written material to real-life situations.
What is Functional Illiteracy?
Functional illiteracy is defined as having basic reading and writing abilities but lacking the skills to effectively understand and use information. This means individuals can identify words and read simple sentences but cannot fully grasp their meaning or apply them to practical situations. In essence, their reading ability is insufficient for everyday needs.
A Recent Example
A recent question in Japan highlighted this problem: "Alex is a nickname for Alexandra, used for both males and females. What is the nickname for Alexandra?" The correct answer was "Alex," but surprisingly, only 38% of high school students answered correctly. Even more broadly, only 65% got the question correct. This example demonstrates how people can recognize individual words but struggle to understand their meaning in context.
Global Prevalence
Functional illiteracy is not limited to Japan. Surveys from other countries reveal similar challenges:
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Philippines: A survey indicated that approximately 18.9 million Filipinos aged 10-64 are classified as functionally illiterate, despite having basic literacy skills.
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United States: The U.S. National Educational Statistics Center estimates that 21% of adults in the United States are either illiterate or functionally illiterate.
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United Kingdom: Approximately 18% of adults aged 16-65 in the UK are considered to have very weak reading and writing skills. They can understand short texts on familiar topics but struggle with unfamiliar themes.
The Impact of Functional Illiteracy
The inability to understand written information has significant consequences for individuals and society:
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Educational Challenges: Students struggle to comprehend textbooks and exam questions, hindering their ability to learn effectively. Professors are finding it difficult to assign reading homework, as students become overwhelmed and give up.
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Limited Employment Opportunities: Many jobs require reading and understanding operation manuals, reports, and other documents. Functional illiteracy can lead to low work efficiency and job insecurity.
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Difficulties in Daily Life: Individuals may struggle to understand instructions, contracts, official documents, and the social security system.
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Economic Hardship: In remote areas, the inability to understand contracts and other documents can make it difficult to conduct business and break the cycle of poverty.
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Reduced Civic Engagement: Difficulty understanding news and political information can limit participation in social and political processes, making individuals more susceptible to misinformation and populism.
Contributing Factors
Several factors contribute to functional illiteracy:
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Unequal Education Resources: Rural areas often lack adequate educational resources, hindering students' ability to learn effectively.
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Poverty: Low-income families may lack the resources to support their children's education, such as study materials and proper nutrition.
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Digital Divide: Lack of access to reliable internet and electronic devices, particularly in remote areas, can hinder students' ability to participate in online learning. The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated this issue, leading to interrupted learning and performance decline.
Overcoming Functional Illiteracy
Fortunately, reading comprehension skills can be improved through training. Strategies include:
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Vocabulary Building: Increasing vocabulary is essential, especially from a young age.
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Reading Comprehension Exercises: Teachers can select short passages from textbooks and guide students through reading, understanding, and summarizing the content.
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Copying Text: Writing out the text can improve reading comprehension and recall.
Even adults can improve their reading comprehension skills with targeted training.
Personal Experience
The presenter shared a personal anecdote about their struggles with reading English textbooks after moving to the United States. They overcame this challenge through persistent effort and found reading enjoyable through books like Harry Potter.
The presenter encourages viewers to share their experiences with difficult-to-understand materials in the comments section. The show also promotes its YouTube channel and Like Today official account for international news updates.
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