JAKARTADAILY.ID - Literacy is one of the skillsets that people from any level of education must have; it is the language ability possessed by a person in communicating in reading, speaking, listening and writing in different ways according to their goals.
In short, the definition of literacy is the ability to write and read.
It is undeniable that English is the international language of the global community which has become the standard language in communication, regardless of which country a person comes from.
There are at least 61 countries on 6 continents that use English as their official language. Those who come from parts of Asia when visiting other Asian countries, generally do not use the language of that country, but instead use English. English has now become a universal language, a language for networking, and of course the language of business.
Literacy skills, especially in English, are very much needed considering that we are currently entering an era where global problems have become part of local problems, and the world's population is easily connected to one another.
In the 1990s and early 2000s, it was unthinkable for those in Indonesia to be able to contact an official government representative in another country, communicate directly with idol artists without having to write letters, and even be able to get information on job vacancies abroad just from a computer screen.
It is also inconceivable that now we can connect with a CEO of a major technology company in the world easily, without having to read the newspaper or watch the news on TV.
This open, transparent, and fast access to information encourages the world community, especially the generation who are still educated, to be able to see what is currently happening in any part of the world.
For example, the meeting of leaders of countries discussing climate change in 2021 brought new knowledge to schoolchildren about the importance of reducing carbon gas emissions with simple behaviors.
The methods of education and learning have also changed led by emerging new challenges. Technology has changed the landscape of learning in various countries, including Asia, Europe, and America.
In the past, students were encouraged to watch the news and read newspapers, and now without being asked, they open YouTube channels to find interesting information and this makes it easier for them to master English literacy.
21st Century Learning Model
Literacy is part of one of the characteristics of modern learning methods, where there is a change from teacher-centric to student-centric. In the past, it was the teacher who was active in the classroom, but now students are required to be active as well.