This article explores the various constraints on student involvement in the process of planning adult literacy programs. It examines the cultural traits of illiteracy and the traits of continuing education professionals in order to find the limits of their effectiveness. (Author/CT)

The development of biliteracy programs designed for adults involves a broad range of sociolinguistic questions that can be approached from a language planning perspective. As a problem-solving activity, language planning is the realization of language policy that a government adopts in respect to such issues as language diversity, minority…

Summarizes current knowledge about literacy, as related to learning in second language situations, and describes three approaches to instruction. A Vancouver project for Indo-Canadian women is described that implements these approaches and assesses participants' learning processes. (46 references) (Author/LB)

A 353 demonstration project was conducted in the Lancaster, Pennsylvania, area to provide adult literacy students with information concerning voting in local, state, and national elections. The project had two components: (1) development and presentation of a series of three learner voting workshops; and (2) creation and presentation of a hands-on…

This booklet is intended to assist persons interested in forming a student-centered adult basic education study group. The first section provides an overview of the skills taught in basic education programs. A section on approaches and attitudes emphasizes the importance of the following concepts to basic education groups: allowing students to…

The book contains 15 papers focusing on adult illiteracy in Great Britain in the context of the community, but excluding the prison population, trainees at Adult Training Centres, patients in mental hospitals, or literacy education in the armed forces. The papers are presented in three sections. Part 1 on students contains six papers: "The…

The primary objective of the Success Stories: From Learning to Leadership project, which was conducted by a private consulting firm, was to provide technical assistance to the Pennsylvania Department of Education's Bureau of Adult Basic and Literacy Education (ABLE) in its efforts to select and recognize the achievements of 10 outstanding ABLE…

This manual provides suggestions for planning and organizing literacy programs; samples and illustrations of course content; and suggested criteria for setting up such programs. The seven chapters of the manual are as follows: 1. Things Which You Can Do; 2. Learning to Talk English; 3. Reading; 4. Writing; 5. Spelling; 6. Teaching Arithmetic to…

Studies show Hispanics to have substantially higher rates of illiteracy than any other major population group in the United States. Illiteracy is one of a number of language problems for this population; other problems include limited oral English proficiency and native language illiteracy. Hispanics drop out of school in higher numbers and leave…

A 353 demonstration project was conducted in Philadelphia for the following purposes: (1) to develop learner-relevant educational materials to stimulate basic literacy and critical thinking skills; (2) to foster empowerment in adult learners through voter participation; and (3) to produce a manual for increasing literacy skills through voter…

Computer-assisted learning (CAL) can be used for adults functioning at any academic or grade level. In adult basic education (ABE), CAL can promote greater learning effectiveness and faster progress, concurrent learning and experience with computer literacy skills, privacy, and motivation. Adults who face barriers (financial, geographic, personal,…

A project in creative writing and literacy was developed and implemented for people experiencing mental health difficulties. The project was a jointly organized activity between Dearne Valley College and Doncaster MIND in England. (MIND is a network of mental health associations in England and Wales.) The college counselor acted as the supervisor…

This document contains the final report and manual from Project Network, an experimental learning program that allowed adult literacy learners to interact via the Internet. The classes consisted of instruction in the following areas: basic keyboarding, simple networking techniques, accessing America Online, sending and receiving electronic mail…

This issue contains five articles about assessment in adult literacy programs. The first article, "Living Literacy: Rethinking Adult Learner Assessment" (Susan L. Lytle), focuses on developing alternative forms of assessment such as literacy portfolios to identify changes in four dimensions of adult literacy over the course of literacy…

The Niagara Falls Secondary School Family Learning Program targets young disadvantaged parents and their preschool children for family literacy development that focuses on parent-child literacy and social interaction. Guidelines for program development include establishing partnerships based on a shared vision of family literacy, developing plans…