Describes how a language experience approach was used in a workplace literacy program for adult immigrant railroad workers in Australia. Describes how the workshop built on participants' developed oral skills and life experience to create texts that were relevant, interesting, and comprehensible to these learners. (SR)

Too often adult literacy programs seem based on the assumption that, if learners work hard on skills for six months, they will have "acquired" literacy, as though it is a set of skills adults can "get" from a tutor (Kazemek, 1985). One study of 20 adult literacy classes in eight U.S. states found basic (not higher level) skills the predominant…

Describes a joint literacy program between Drexel University in Philadelphia and the Center for Literacy which is based on three nonintrusive instructional procedures: the language-experience approach, individualized reading, and expressive writing. Presents case studies of three adult learners. Evaluates the program's effectiveness. (SR)