Unit # 1: Adult Literacy and the Literacy Learner

Objectives:

• to provide a general overview of adult literacy
• to present a profile of learners served by LBS college programs

What Is Adult Literacy?

Adult literacy skills exist along a continuum. Some adults can read a few simple words. Others can read printed documents but have difficulty understanding what they say. Still others can read just about anything. It is not uncommon for adults to be strong in one area (reading) and weak in another (writing).

Definitions for literacy abound and are much debated. Some definitions are broad while others are very narrow. Broader definitions usually encompass an array of competencies such as speaking, oral communication, problem-solving, creative thinking and decisionmaking. Literacy skills are sometimes referred to as foundation, essential or basic skills.

A widely accepted definition is the one developed for the International Adult Literacy Survey (IALS) completed in 1994. According to this groundbreaking survey, literacy is defined as the ability to understand and employ printed information in daily activities, at home, at work and in the community – to achieve one’s goals, and to develop one’s knowledge and potential.

The IALS study involved samples from seven industrialized nations. It included face-toface testing in people’s homes. People ranged in age from 16-65 and were given everyday reading tasks at various levels of difficulty.

The IALS study looked at three domains:

1. Prose Literacy – the knowledge and skills required to understand and use information from texts such as news stories and editorials, and literature
2. Document Literacy – the knowledge and skills required to locate and use information contained in a variety of formats such as maps, forms, graphs and schedules
3. Quantitative – the knowledge and skills required to apply math operations to numbers in text, e.g., calculating tips, balancing cheque books and completing order forms