Mexican immigrants whose first language is not Spanish are demanding more literacy and education centers. Despite the language barrier, they migrated to a city where, without instruction, they cannot manage to learn to read or express themselves.

Far from their hometowns, an increasing number of indigenous Mexican immigrants in New York City express their frustration at not being able to find literacy centers where they can learn to read and write.

In fact, a great number of them fall prey to ridicule and the ill-intentioned comments of their fellow Mexicans.

"They tell us we are ugly, they treat us very badly because we don't speak well," said Valentín Arroyo, a 20-year-old immigrant who said that after four years in this country, he speaks Spanish a little better than he did before leaving his town in the state of Guerrero.

Isolated

Arroyo added that in his hometown people only speak indigenous languages – Otomí and Mixtec. Upon arriving in cities like New York, it is a challenge not only for their intellect and ability to communicate, but also to interact with their own fellow Mexicans.

"They make fun of us," said Arroyo. Since having arrived in this country some years ago, with willpower he learned to speak Spanish, English, and a little bit of Korean in the streets.