Why Early English Language Education is Vital for Success
While the United States does not have an official national language, the majority of the population speaks English as their primary language. In addition, the majority of educational instruction from K-12 is conducted in English. While this is no problem for many students, it presents a great problem for students whose English literacy is well below their peers when they enter our school system.
English Language Learners (ELL) are kids within the US student population who are not yet fluent in English and will not get the full benefits of English instruction. ELL students represent 20% of students in California and 10% of students in the United States. Without intervention, ELL students are at risk of falling behind their non-ELL counterparts. This deficiency has lifelong implications, affecting graduation rates, job prospects, and future income.
GLEN World is dedicated to helping ELL students increase their language proficiency, using a number of research-driven and effective techniques. We have developed a series of apps that are designed to help ELL students gain language skills through engaging activities, following best practices from Instructed Second Language Acquisition research. These apps can be used in conjunction with classroom instruction, as well as without supervision in the home. To find out more about ELL students and how you can help, visit our website.
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.
GLEN World is experimenting with safe and scalable ways to leverage generative AI to create learning content that promotes curiosity and engagement in young learners. Our first two experiments in AI-generated learning content are AI Explain and AI Tails. GLEN World’s YouTube channel features the AI Explain playlist with educational videos on the origin of important inventions and discoveries. The AI Tails playlist includes AI-generated illustrated audiobooks on topics that we hope will interest young 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.
As always, we are grateful for your support. If you like our work, please consider a donation.
GLEN World is a 501(c)3 nonprofit. If your employer has a donation match program, then that’s a great way to double your gift’s impact!