Adult Literacy Weekly Treasures

I have become somewhat obsessed with finding out as much information as I can about adult literacy. I have started "googling" adult literacy almost everyday, and have particularly enjoyed some of the blogs I have come across. I am going to try posting my latest finds each week. Happy reading!

From Washington D.C.'s Street Sense: an excellent article about the shame some adult students feel about their illiteracy.
http://www.streetsense.org/2010/10/adult-literacy-a-silent-crisis/

From the Durham Literacy Center, Adult Literacy Community Blog: a post about a little known syndrome some adult students are facing.
http://dlcal.wordpress.com/2010/09/20/irlen-syndrome/

From the UNESCO Institute for Statistics: Some findings about the number of illiterate adults both Nationally and Worldwide.
http://www.uis.unesco.org/ev.php?URL_ID=6401&URL_DO=DO_TOPIC&URL_SECTION=201

From Media Post Blogs: An article about the clever ideas used to promote literacy at Greenville Literacy Association in Greenville, South Carolina.
http://www.mediapost.com/publications/?fa=Articles.showArticle&art_aid=136025

Last but not least, and ad from the Ad Council called Barriers-Adult Literacy.
http://scaryideas.com/content/19614/

Hope you enjoy these links as much as I did.

17%

You are standing in line at the bank, the older gentleman in front of you looks like any other citizen. Clean cut, dressed well, he even smiles at you kindly. He gets to the teller and holding his bank book and a check he tells the person, “I forgot my glasses again, could you please fill out this deposit slip for me.” The bank teller knowingly smiles and kindly agrees. What are the possibilities that this man didn’t forget his glasses, but in fact cannot read or write the English language and so has developed coping skills to get through life. The statistics show that 17%* of adult residents in NJ (out of a total population of 8,707,739) are without adequate literacy skills, so it is pretty likely. To me this is staggering.

The story changes only slightly if they are an ESOL adult. Maybe at their job and at home they can speak their native language, but out in the community the majority of the time they need help communicating their needs. These adults are not numbers; they are the people we meet every day, parents or grandparents of friends, neighbors, the young man who delivers your lunch every day, maybe even family members.

It is easy to be angry and say why? Why has no one helped them? If they are understandably too ashamed or afraid to get help, what will happen to them? When I first read the statistics I was overwhelmed and felt somewhat in despair for our state. But when I became a volunteer with LV of Union County, the numbers ceased to matter. I learned that the adults who come to these programs are looking for help and they have a name and a history, and that matters. If you are their tutor, it becomes all about them, making sure their voice is heard above all the noise fear and shame has created. Maybe the illiteracy numbers don’t go down because you helped one person learn to fill out their own bank deposit slip, but that person’s life has become easier, and maybe they have pride and determination to go further.

I finished my tutor training two weeks ago and it was one of the best trainings I have ever been to; well thought out, and full of great examples. I don’t mean to gush, but all of the trainers were so understanding and caring and honest. I learned so much, not just about how to teach an adult, but what it takes personally. I have developed a greater respect overall for tutors and trainers and anyone in this field who is trying to make adult literacy a priority.

I haven’t been matched with a student yet, but I know I will get one. With 1 in 6 adults in NJ needing help, there is bound to be someone who needs me sooner or later. Of course this brings on a whole new set of fears and questions. What will I say to them when I meet them for the first time? Will they be as scared and unsure as I will be? How can I make them feel comfortable and let them know I don’t feel sorry for them, I am proud of them already for coming forward and being a part of the solution? I am eager to find out the answers to these questions and to share them with everyone I know. Stay tuned!

*Estimates of low literacy developed by the National Center for Education Statistics for the U.S Department of Education Institute of Education Sciences. Their website: http://nces.ed.gov/naal/estimates/Index.aspx

Power In Words

Last week I went to a special event hosted by LV of Union county. This is the LVNJ affiliate program whose tutor training I am going through. All of the trainees in my class were invited by our trainer who organized the event. It was a celebration for tutors and students, and a launching of the second annual student writing and art magazine called "Connections."

I had to work that day and I went right to the event from work. I was tired and a little unsure of whether I should even go. But I had said I would go and I wanted to keep my word, plus I was really curious to hear the students stories and to see the artwork done by one of their students.

When I got there I was really happy to see they were serving coffee : ). Also I saw some of my fellow tutor training classmates. I always feel more comfortable in unfamiliar places if I know at least one person. We all sat together in the audience and talked about our days and how we thought training was going, it was a good bonding experience.

Then the program started. There were the usual thanks and congratulations to the people who had made the program possible. But then the students started their readings. The first student was actually a student of our trainer S and she got up and introduced him. He was an older gentleman, a basic literacy student and he had written a short letter about what it meant to him to know how to read. He was understandably nervous, and stumbled some, but it didn't matter, the entire audience was captivated and you could almost feel the power of their support holding him up wanting him to achieve this goal. I was in awe.

Each student that came up was introduced by their tutor before they spoke. I loved this part just as much as the students' readings because you could see the pride in their faces. A few of the stories made me cry, like the woman who wrote about overcoming a fear so she could work and provide for her family. There was one story written by an older ESOL gentleman whose command of the language was very impressive. He wrote about his experience coming to America and finding the LV program to help him learn to read and write English. He ended his essay with a statement about how important it is for everyone who comes to America to learn to appreciate and understand the American culture. I was so proud to be an American at that moment and the camaraderie among the English speakers, new and experienced, was so poignant.

Public speaking is a very difficult thing for most people. I know even myself after having taken classes on how to be better at public speaking and knowing how to read and write very fluently, still get so nervous when standing before a large crowd of people whose eyes and ears are all tuned to me. For an adult, who has not fully mastered the ability to read and write English, to have the courage and determination to get up and read something they wrote, and to do so clearly and with certainty is a most commendable feat.

I was so encouraged after attending this program. When I am touched personally by something it never leaves me, and I know I will never forget this first lesson in the power of volunteer tutoring.

Fear versus Knowledge

I started tutor training two weeks ago. My boss, J, wanted me to start blogging about my experience. I started late with the blogging because I honestly did not know what to say. J said, "You could start writing the blog before the training starts, write about what your expectations are." But I really did not know what to expect. I know how I felt which was scared and excited. I am not a teacher and I never graduated from college and aside from teaching my children the basics of life I have never really taught anyone anything. Tutoring seemed so elusive to me. As with most things in my life however, I decided I was not going to let my fear keep me from trying.

So training started on a Tuesday night, and I went with my mind open to the trainers. One of the first things trainer S said has stuck with me like a permanent post it note: "If you can read, you can teach someone to read, if you can speak English, you can teach someone to speak English.” AMAZING! How simple. I like simple thoughts that make sense and this thought resonated with me instantly. Second thing I learned that first night: We don't have to be perfect, we may be the only chance these adults have to learn, we are good enough because we took the time and are willing to be there with them. Another simple but profound thought. Thank goodness for my trainers who probably could see the uncertainty in our faces, and knew just what to say to help us un-cloud our minds.

Talking with some of the other tutor trainees was really encouraging for me. No matter the reason that brought us all there, we all shared one desire: to help someone learn to read and write English. It was both humbling and empowering to be with these very smart and capable people all learning at the same time. I left feeling certain that I could handle this journey, I left unafraid and still excited!