Illiteracy in Ireland has complex social, economic, educational, and political causes. Many areas of the country still have inadequate literacy programs, with too great reliance on volunteers. Adult literacy work is often performed in isolation from other adult education activities. (SK)

The National Workplace Literacy Program provides grants to partnerships of business, labor, and educational organizations to develop model programs for teaching job-related basic skills. These projects are yielding information about promising practices, effective program elements, and barriers to implementation. (SK)

Some studies from the fields of adult literacy and English as a Second Language (ESL) are summarized that provide a personal look at literacy learning. (Contains 17 references.) (LB)

Examined prose, document, and quantitative literacy skills of 1,791 black and white Mississippi residents aged 16 to 75. Results revealed that very few Mississippians were totally illiterate but that level of literacy was associated with education, age, and race. Both highly educated and little-educated older persons scored lower on all three…

Suggests that adult basic skills programs may be ineffective for developing the kinds of literacy proficiencies assessed by the National Adult Literacy Survey--reading and understanding prose and documents materials and texts containing quantitative information. Discusses why basic skills education may not lead to improved literacy skills. Offers…

Case studies of six adult literacy students revealed that overt literacy action--conscious effort to use new skills in authentic situations--was a key element in learner success. Most of the overt actions took the form of writing rather than reading. (SK)

Assesses the Australian Language and Literacy Policy in terms of the metaphors and constructions of subjects it uses. Examines concepts of skill deficiency, continues learning, nonparticipation, the scourge of illiteracy, stunted growth, deprived subject, and disempowerment. (SK)

The issue of integrating technology into adult literacy programs would benefit from the implementation of a curriculum deliberation process that includes perspectives of practitioners, learners, subject matter experts, and milieus. This would ensure the development of coherent curricula, with the key consideration being the efficacy of computers…

Reflects on 25 years of adult basic education in Britain, finding progress in understanding the nature of adult learning needs, the conceptualization of literacy, teacher preparation, and educational opportunities. Identifies challenges in motivating adults to participate and improving the effectiveness of basic skills provision. (SK)

Hamilton's critique of the National Federation for Educational Research (NFER) study, Progress in Adult Literacy, addresses the conceptualization of literacy, flaws in the research design, school-oriented focus, and validity and reliability of tests used; she suggests a research strategy. Brooks summarizes NFER's response. (SK)

Pennsylvania adult literacy providers who responded to a survey (35 of 93) were generally satisfied with assessment tools for English as a Second Language. Problem areas included writing assessment for placement; measures of progress in reading, writing, and speaking; and diagnostic tools for grammar, pronunciation, and student interests and…

The critical literacy component of an adult program developed skills in analyzing media advertising; using math for data analysis, graphing, and computation; interpreting data; and becoming aware of advertising's part in reenforcing gender roles. (SK)

For Paulo Freire, "word" has spoken, written, and active dimensions that underlie literacy education programs. Literacy is a political phenomenon, and critical literacy is the development of a reflective, dialogical, praxical mode of being. (SK)

Discusses student writing as it relates to adult literacy education and describes "Write First Time," a newsletter of adult literacy students' writings. Suggests that having writing published gives learners a different view of other printed texts. (JOW)

Examines the interrelationship between the marginal status of the field of adult basic education and those disenfranchised because of their economic standing as a result of welfare in the United States. Deconstructs the phenomenon of marginalization and analyzes its impact on program delivery and recipients of services. (SLD)