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'Age Is No Barrier' – Learning To Read At
The Age Of 57
Newstalk:
9.08.2020 by Stephen McNeice
A man who learned to read at the age of 57 says it "opened up
a whole new life" for him.
Michael, who is now 66, told Lunchtime Live he "never
dreamt" he'd be able to read a book - but now regularly picks up books
from his local library.
He was speaking as the world today marks International
Literacy Day.
Research has shown half of adults don't have digital skills, one
in four struggle with maths and one in six struggle with reading and
understanding text.
The Government today announced plans to develop a new 10-year
strategy aimed at ensuring everyone has the literacy, numeracy and digital
skills to meet their needs and participate fully in society.
Speaking to Andrea Gilligan, Michael explained his life has changed
'dramatically' since learning to read a decade ago.
He said: "Up until the age of 57, I was unable to read. I was
fit to read my name and address, but I wasn't fit to read a piece of text.
"When I started working, back in the 60s-70s, things were fairly
simple.
"I got a job in a meat processing plant: if you could count
up to ten, you were grand - in fact, you were maybe smarter than a lot of
them."
He said he had "developed a skill" which would allow him
to get by with everyday tasks such as filling out forms.
He gave the example of going to fill out a motor tax form - where
he'd ask the man or woman at the desk to help him out, something "90% of
the ladies or gents" would happily do.
However, his inability to read was not something he ever mentioned
directly.
He says "nobody ever said anything" to him about it, but
people likely knew - with Michael suggesting "it was one of those things
that people wouldn't say to you".
It was a friend giving him a laptop that spurred Michael on to
start learning - albeit after the computer sat in a 'pile of junk' for nearly a
year.
He recalled: "I used to look at this thing, and I was sort of
scared of it. LISTEN
22:34
Based on 7 readability formulas:
Grade Level: 9
Reading Level: standard / average.
Reader's Age: 13-15 yrs. old
(Eighth and Ninth graders)
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