Literacy and Globalization: Reading and Writing in Times of Social and Cultural Change

Globalization and the market economy, marginalized populations, community empowerment, and educational systems are some of the prominent issues shaping the global perspective of adult education (Merriam, Courtenay, & Cervero, 2006). Literate English speaking relatives, customer service advisors, and sales clerks were used to transact business, such as filling out bank slips and loan agreements and reading invoice statements, on behalf of those who could not read or write English.