This collection of 17 papers, presented at a conference in May 1996, documents some of the current thinking about adult literacy education in Great Britain. The first of the three sections of the papers, "Some Context," contains two analyses of the political and economic realities within which potential participants in adult literacy and language education negotiate their opportunities for learning: "Basic Education in the Post-Industrial World: Jobs, Gender, and Citizenship" (Sue Gardener), and "What Refugees Bring to Literacy Classes" (Helen Sunderland). The second section, "Research Perspectives," includes five papers: "Putting the New Literacies into Practice" (David Barton, Mary Hamilton); "Photography in Collaborative Research: 'Insider'/'Outsider' Images and Understandings of Multilingual Literacy Practices" (Rachel Hodge, Kathryn Jones); "Making Sense of Experience: The Role of Narrative in Research and Practice" (Julia Clarke); "Self-Directed Learning: Liberating or Oppressive?: Developing Autonomy in Open Learning" (Chris O'Mahony, Wendy Moss); and "Teach the Mother to Reach the Child?" (Jacqui Armour). The third section, "Students Teaching, Teachers Learning," contains 10 papers that show different strategic responses to learners' interests and address issues of theory and practice that those interests raise for teachers and their managers who seek to improve the quality of adult literacy education. The papers are as follows: "Family Learning in West Glamorgan" (Sandra Morton); "Understanding Nursery Education: A Course for Parents & Careers" (Foufou Savitsky); "ESOL [English for speakers of other languages] and Student Publishing" (Qaisra Ahmad); "The Gatehouse Asian Women's Project" (Tom Woodin); "A Pragmatic Approach to Vocational Literacy" (Audrey Stewart); "Finding a Way In: Back Door Routes to Learning" (Jo Colley); "The Politics of Workplace Literacy" (Fiona Frank, Chris Holland); "Listening and Teaching in Basic Education" (Alison Noel); "The Significance of Student Writing" (Jane Mace); and "RaPAL [Research and Practice in Adult Literacy] 1996: A Turning Point?" (Margaret Herrington). The publication includes information about the conference and the presenters. (KC)