Information for Adult Learners

Conversation Circle Summary

Throughout the conversation circles, women made comments about reading and literacy materials. They said what they like to read. They talked about what they want to learn. In addition, women discussed how hard it is to find materials they can read. Participants had many good ideas about this. They offered general suggestions about ways to make materials more accessible.

 

I just don't know how to research the things I want to read.

 

Availability

Women disagreed about how much their teachers help them to find materials that interest them. One woman says that teachers just assign readings. They never ask what women want to read. Another woman, though, said her teachers tell her about certain books. In one group, the women said their tutor always brought book or articles on topics they wanted. However, they wanted to be able to find things on their own. Women have been able to get books and magazines from bookstores, libraries or from their friend's house. Women did say they would read more if they could find books at their level and they were interesting.

They had some ideas about how to do this.

A booklist with simplified readings on it would help. The booklist could be like the ones that teachers send home from school with the children. It would have a description of the books and the price and a picture of the cover. It could say what they reading level is. It should have an order form and women can order it.

Women liked the idea of a book list or catalog. However, they did NOT want to join a book club like Oprahs'. They did not want to join a club where they would have to regularly buy books (like those record or video clubs). They did like getting ideas from a catalog.

Literature that can be taken home (from the learning center or program) so they can read or get more educated at home. Several women wanted to borrow books from their school.

 

There needs to be commercials about books (like there is for beer and cars and stuff). The commercials should say what are good books and tell about why.

 

Book Clubs and Book Classes

Women in a couple of different conversation circles thought that books groups would be a good idea for them. Women liked the idea of being given a book and reading it with a group. Some liked the idea of taking it home for a week then coming back the next week to discuss it. Others thought everyone could read the book together at the same time.

You know what. I have an idea. If you just bring in some books about the topics like what we're talking about and we just decide on that book and we can get together and we can read the book. We can take turns reading and read by ourselves and at the end of the book we should just say what we thought about it and felt about it.

 

One of the conversation circles involved women already participating in a book discussion group. It was a Women Leading Through Reading book group. They didn't have time to read at home and decided to read articles together each week. These women thought the book group had helped them improve their reading.

The facilitator of the discussions (Mev) always brought a suitcase full of women's literacy materials to each conversation circle. Women enjoyed looking at these materials. Sometimes it gave them suggestions for books they would like to read. Some women borrowed these books. This gave one woman an idea for a book class.

They should have a book class so that they can show you all the different kinds of books there are.

She thought it could be like a "show-and-tell" of different books. It would be a way for women learners to find out about books they could read.

 

Bookstores and Libraries

Some women said they borrow books from friends. But they also like to use libraries and go to bookstores. In general, though, most women thought that bookstores and libraries were too overwhelming. One woman thought that people in the bookstores were not helpful at all. Mostly, they didn't even know how to find what she wanted - (like, Maya Angelou, who??). But she did have good help from librarians.

How about the librarians? Do they help? T. - Oh man! I mean the one in downtown in _______, those are my girls there! They really sit down, we get to typin' find different types of books. That's where I got all them...

 

Several women thought that librarians they had met were helpful.

 

 

However, women want to be able to find books on their own. One group said it would be a good idea, in both the library and the bookstore, to have a directory. It would be good if there was a section called "easier-to-read books" or "basic books for adults." They do not think this is insulting. Having them in one place would be good and helpful. The section should be divided by subject -- like history, health, parenting, stories, etc. Also, a directory should be right in the front of the bookstore or library. It would have a map showing where the section is. It's too hard and overwhelming to look up and see all the signs.

 

Learner Participation

Some participants wanted learners to be more directly involved. Several women liked the idea of creating and controlling what they would put in a resource center for women. One woman wanted to do it herself. Other women thought they should agree with each other and choose a candidate.

Written question: What's a good way to involve adult learners in selecting and publishing literacy materials? Written answers: • I think that if your going to involve adults, come up with topic or topics that draw each adults attention that they will be able to talk with each other. • I like to talk about it and talk about concerns. It would be nice it have a second opinion.... It also helps to have group discussions.

Some groups thought it would be good for learners to write materials. One ESL learner says it's easier for her to read and write English. It's harder to speak and understand spoken English. Having the option to write helped her in groups. A peer tutor thought it would be a good idea for ESL women to write stories about their experiences and cultures. It would help other ESL learners to have materials about their own experiences. Some women participated in a local radio show. They wrote their own stories and read them on the air. They also had some of their writings published in a local literacy magazine. Women enjoyed these experiences. It was fun to hear themselves on the radio and to see their writings in print.

The women in one program got very excited about writing a book about their program. They created a large outline of ideas and questions for a book about the women in their center.

Outline of Ideas for a book about women at the (name of program). Women should write a book about women who go to _______, a book about our lives. We were very excited about this idea. We would like to read a book about the life experiences of women who attend ______. If a book like this had been given to us when we first came here, we would have liked that. It would have been helpful. These are some of our ideas about what could be in this book and what it would mean to us. I could read about women with experiences like mine: • Women who don't know math • Women who don't read well • Women who want to get their GEDs • Women who want to get off welfare • I would like to write my own story, to know about our different backgrounds. We can write our stories but we don't need to use our own names. • It should have lots of pictures. • It would be divided into sections and chapters. • Some women might not want to write their own stories or would find this hard to do. Maybe someone could interview them or maybe they could narrate it on tape and someone else could help them to write it. • Single parent experiences • Growing up in their communities • Survivors of drugs / alcohol • Getting our independence back • Dedicated to the (teachers) • Why are you here in this program? • What was it like before you got here? What's if like after you came here? How are you different? How is your life different? • How do you feel about yourself? • What gives you motivation and encouragement? • Are your goals different since coming here? Like deciding to go to college?

 

Additional Ideas

Writers should attend literacy conferences.

We would also be willing to use a website that talks about literacy materials if it was easy to find and easy to use. We would like it to express the opinions of adults learning to read. This would be good. One woman in our group would also like to know how to get a website started. It would be interesting to start one.

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