Reviews a number of issues from the Namibia World Literacy Consultation (October 1990): the legitimacy of nongovernmental organizations, definitions of functional literacy, mother tongue versus bilingual and bicultural literacy, funding, and war and occupation. (SK)

Relates how the publication of a book (written in Kikongo, an African native language) designed to raise peasants' awareness in Lower Zaire about desertification and other serious environmental issues had dramatic and surprising implications not only for the environment, but also regarding peasant literacy and the power of reading. (SR)

In 11 innovative programs examined as part of a U.S. study on adult English-as-a-Second-Language (ESL) literacy, the philosophies that informed the ESL curricula ranged from literacy that encouraged personal growth or individual empowerment to literacy for social adaptation or assimilation. (Contains 35 references.) (Author/LB)

The increasing popularity of participatory approaches to adult English-as-a-Second-Language (ESL) instruction have positive and negative implications. Although learner-centered content helps adults learn best, it may also limit learning resulting from the learners' own marginalization. Political (i.e., social context) factors must be considered.…

Finds that the supportive environment of "women helping women" was the hallmark characteristic of a local Even Start family literacy program and that participants were not consciously thinking about family literacy but joined the program for themselves and gave no indication of seeing the connection between the adult literacy component…

Tells the story of one student's experience in an adult literacy class to reflect on whether teaching practices can foster changes in adult literacy learners that are transformational. Finds mixed answers. (SR)

In Thailand, secondary school enrollments for males and females were negatively related to employment opportunities in the agricultural sector and positively related to opportunities in the manufacturing and service sectors. In Kenya, school supply, school quality, and service-sector employment positively influenced enrollments. Adult literacy…

Describes a workplace literacy project implemented at a hospital with help from a university and a literacy organization. Finds significant changes in all basic skill areas and improvement in job performance, attitude, and self-esteem. Argues that well-designed programs improve employee job performance when program success is closely linked to…

Reprints of two Harvard Educational Review articles from 1970, "The Adult Literacy Process in Cultural Action for Freedom" and "Cultural Action and Conscientization," highlight the importance of education to human rights. (SK)

Describes development of CD-ROM and print materials designed for learners with low literacy levels. Explains the importance of group work, incorporation of different learning styles, and the benefits of flexible delivery. (SK)

Within the framework of the body as a significant site for learning, case studies of staff in an eldercare facility and of adult learners of English as a second language are used to support the claim of ontological performance (practical embodied actions) as a way to approach adult learning for and at work. (Contains 38 references.) (SK)

State and national surveys of programs, literacy performance levels, and participants suggest that demand for literacy instruction should be estimated from current participation and not from assumptions about needs. Supply should be defined in terms of layers of service providers. (SK)

Describes three school programs designed to provide alternative schooling for Brazilian street children and illiterate adult students with the basic skills to survive in their world. Directly or indirectly embedded in Freirean principles, the three programs are: (1) Sao Paulo Interdisciplinary School Reform; (2) Projeto Axe: Schooling for Street…

Introduces and examines a model for evaluating workplace literacy programs. Focuses on changes in literacy practices, beliefs about personal effectiveness with literacy, reading processes, literacy abilities, and changes in educational plans. Finds programs were most effective at improving learner literacy performance, literacy strategies and…

Examines the reading habits and patterns of White and Asian American adults. Hypothesizes that when grouped by demographic variables, participants' responses about their reading habits and patterns would not differ. Concludes that gender, race, and education were predictors for participants' reading habits; education and race were predictors for…