subject: Solving The Literacy Crisis In Your Community [print this page] What does it mean when a person is functionally illiterate? The term applies to people who can read and write to a certain degree, but their level of comprehension may still be inadequate to manage the tasks involved in daily living. Recent studies show that about 43 percent of functionally illiterate adults live in poverty and, of that 43 percent, 17 percent receive food stamps. Another disturbing fact is 70 percent of this group lacks full-time employment.
A person who is functionally illiterate leads a life full of complications because when adults cant read and write on a functional level, it impacts all aspects of their lives. Their ability to earn a living wage is limited, and their families suffer a lower standard of living. It is possible to help if communities start a basic literacy program for adults.
Benefits of Literacy and Reading Programs
The National Assessment of Adult Literacy estimates that about 20 percent of adults read below a fifth grade level. If they take part in an adult reading program, it will benefit their families, because a rise in reading and writing levels improves employment possibilities. Research shows that as a parents educational level rises, their children do better in school and break out of the cycle of poverty when they become working adults.
Community Volunteers For Increasing Literacy
Teaching in a basic literacy program for adults doesnt necessarily require a certified teacher. In many cases, community programs rely on recruiting volunteers who they specially train in methods for teaching adults. Community volunteers need to be able to understand the special emotional issues that come with being an adult learner. It requires taking the time to earn the adults trust, because not being able to read often makes them defensive. The inability to read is a secret theyve kept from family and friends for many years. It should be noted that adults also dont learn as quickly as children, so it takes a great deal of patience to help students through an adult reading program. Its also important to decide what kind of learner the adult is and use techniques that work with visual, auditory or kinesthetic learners.
How Communities Help Their Own
Often, communities sponsor basic literacy programs for adults through community colleges and libraries. It benefits the community as a whole when people take part in adult reading programs, because it is imperative that the workforce be well-educated. The programs have the added benefit of allowing members of the community to tutor and offer services to those who need help. One overlooked group is the older learner. They need an especially gentle touch, because older people may have managed to successfully have a career in a time when factory work was prominent and the need for workers to be literate not as important.
General Course Content
Adult reading programs can cover areas such as phonics, sight-reading of common words, spelling, writing and increasing comprehension levels. Most programs aim for practical applications such as reading the newspaper, filling out simple forms and correctly answering questions on job applications.
A literacy program is of tremendous benefit for a community. A well-trained and committed staff can make all the difference to adult learners. Society as a whole will function better when fully literate adults can participate successfully in the workforce.
