An ethnographic study examined illiterates and their understanding of literacy. The theoretical background of the study is based on the thesis of "contemporary orality": that India is a fundamentally oral culture that retains all the characteristics of primary orality (Walter Ong's term) through the use of speech as the dominant medium…

Research conducted by the Canadian Institute for Adult Education revealed an alarming degree of illiteracy among francophone adults living in Canada. In the province of Alberta the illiteracy rate was dramatic, with estimates of up to 10,000 adults who were francophone by birth and yet illiterate in French. This report describes the underlying…

This document consists of the four issues of the "ILY Newsletter" issued during 1990. The January/February issue, "The Book Voyage," reports on the International Literacy Year (ILY) project in which a series of books travels around the world and people who have recently learned to read and write express messages in the books,…

This is a congressional hearing on the topic of adult education and proposed amendments to Public Law 97-377, the Adult Education Act. Testimony includes statements from individuals representing the United States Department of Education; director of adult education, Sheehan High School, Wallingford, Connecticut; American Association for Adult and…

Journal is available from the National Institute of Adult Education, 35 Queen Anne Street, London, WIM OBL.

The article examines the effect of international awards and measures of recognition of performance in literacy on literacy program improvement and expansion. (AG)

This research investigates the amount of metalinguistic knowledge one can assume when teaching an adult to read. In addition, it questions the source of this awareness and whether it relates to general cognitive development, to schooling, or specifically to the act of learning to read. The subjects were sixty monolingual adults enrolled in a…

This volume is the report of the proceedings of a seminar on adult education held in Tehran, Iran. The twelve papers included discuss such topics as adult literacy programs in Iran, literacy in Turkey, adult literacy problems and programs of Pakistan, the purpose of literacy training, defining literacy, planning literacy training programs,…

Presenting demographic information on educational achievement in the Southwest region, and, by comparison, the entire United States, the document serves as a resource instrument for those planning educational programs to alleviate adult illiteracy. Information is based upon the 1970 Census and is divided into six chapters which deal individually…

The READ (Reading Evaluation--Adult Diagnosis) test, developed to provide the information needed by teachers of reading for adults or for older students who need more mature materials, is provided. The test is divided into three parts. Part I tests the student's acquaintance with words in general. This part is composed of four lists derived from…

Cites attempts to define and assess adult literacy, noting the trend toward real-life performance-task items which are criterion referenced. (MKM)

Examines three myths concerning illiteracy: (1) the Third World remains poor because of high illiteracy rates; (2) nations can be rated on a scale that compares relative literacy rates, and (3) what is needed is a reliable definition. Concludes the real issue is not literacy, but equity and justice. (CH)

Discusses one central characteristic of "women's way of knowing," some immediate implications for adult literacy instruction, and possible directions for further research. (JOW)

The low level of participation in adult basic education by older adults with minimal education invites consideration of the impact of illiteracy on older adults. Discussed are the role of reading among this population, the adequacy of commonly used definitions and measures of literacy for older adults, and recommendations for research and…

Assuming that many undereducated adults resisted schooling in early years and are now resisting adult basic education (ABE) programs for similar reasons, this study examines young adults in literary fiction who resisted schooling. Implications and recommendations for ABE research are discussed. (JOW)