Talking about literacy : principles and practice of adult literacy education / Jane Mace.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Mace, Jane.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Functional literacy--Great Britain.

Functional literacy.

Reading (Adult education)--Great Britain.

Reading (Adult education).

Physical Description:

1 online resource (xxi,168p. ) ill.

Edition:

1st ed.

Place of Publication:

London ; New York : Routledge, 1992.

Language Note:

English

Summary:

Explores the theory behind adult literacy education - discussing the arguments in favour of literacy, and analysing principles by which literacy may be creatively learned, looking in detail at context, equality and community.

Talking about Literacy re-examines dominant notions of what literacy is, and challenges the problem-solution reflex to the issue (the problem is illiteracy: the solution is more literacy). Literacy has enormous emotional and political associations, and the job of literacy educator often concerns changing attitudes and challenging prejudices - whether in the form of publicity strategies, counselling new students, or in curriculum design. In short, adult literacy education means not only teaching courses like 'fresh start', 'basic skills', 'study skills', 'communication skills', 'language support' and 'return to study', but also designing strategies to encourage people to see that these courses may meet their own interests - and educating them and others to rethink their own negative attitudes to 'illiteracy'. The book looks in detail in at five principles put forward by Jane Mace as central to the education of people who often can read, but wish they could read better; who, technically can write, but have a desire to do so with more expression and coherence. These principles focus on five themes: context, inquiry, authorship, equality and community. Since it is all too easy for literacy education involving adults who do not have formal qualifications to stop short of teaching techniques for 'correct' writing, these principles mean taking seriously a view that adult students are writers as well as readers - that they have an entitlement to be read, as well as to read others. Talking about Literacy re-examines dominant notions of what literacy is, and challenges the problem-solution reflex to the issue (the problem is illiteracy: the solution is more literacy). Literacy has enormous emotional and political associations, and the job of literacy educator often concerns changing attitudes and challenging prejudices - whether in the form of publicity strategies, counselling new students, or in curriculum design. In short, adult literacy education means not only teaching courses like 'fresh start', 'basic skills', 'study skills', 'communication skills', 'language support' and 'return to study', but also designing strategies to encourage people to see that these courses may meet their own interests - and educating them and others to rethink their own negative attitudes to 'illiteracy'. The book looks in detail in at five principles put forward by Jane Mace as central to the education of people who often can read, but wish they could read better; who, technically can write, but have a desire to do so with more expression and coherence. These principles focus on five themes: context, inquiry, authorship, equality and community. Since it is all too easy for literacy education involving adults who do not have formal qualifications to stop short of teaching techniques for 'correct' writing, these principles mean taking seriously a view that adult students are writers as well as readers - that they have an entitlement to be read, as well as to read others.

Contents:

Introduction I. Issues 1. Problems of Representation 2. The Truth For Now II. Principles 1. Listening to the Questions 2. The Teacher Researcher 3. Authors and Authority 4. Readers=Writers 5. Vocations and Vocationalism Conclusion Afterword Bibliography

Notes:

Bibliography: 158-163. -Includes index.

Includes bibliographical references (p. 158-163) and index.

ISBN:

1-134-91962-X

1-134-91963-8

1-280-33832-6

0-203-31440-9

0-203-03251-9

9780203032510

OCLC:

475881497