Literacy In The News :: Spanning North America
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Lancombe Online: 10.19.2020 by Amie MacInnis
The
Red Deer Public Library is offering an adult literacy programs for those studying English as a second
language and those who are looking to improve to their literacy. The program
has been running with Red Deer Public Library since 2006 and has seen a lot of
success.
“We
match volunteer tutors one on one with learners. We work with Canadian-born learners
as well as people who are new to Canada and have immigrated from other
countries. We help people who just need basic help with improving their reading
and writing skills or people who want to speak English better,” said Alla
Mysko-Henke, Program Manager for Red Deer Public Library.
She
said that in the past the program has helped people study for their drivers
test, Canadian Citizenship tests, and in some cases even with numeracy.
Mysko-Henke
says learning English from someone who speaks English fluently can dramatically
help the learner in ways that aren’t necessarily anticipated.
“They
gain self-confidence through meeting with their tutor. They get better quality
of life because their English improves and they can function better in their
regular community or in the society,” she added.
Those
involved in the program often take other volunteering positions such as helping
children with homework and other items.
Often volunteers schedule a tutoring session once a week, but depending
on their schedule they may have more time to dedicate to someone’s learning.
In
the library’s 2019-2020 grant year, they reported 220 volunteers who helped
with 370 learners with literacy, language, and numeracy.
However, Mysko-Henke says the benefits of the program don’t just belong to the learner but that tutors receive something out of it as well. READ MORE ➤➤
Libraries
such as ours serve as multipurpose spaces that are used for reading, studying,
collaborating, and learning. One of the objectives in the Neuse Regional
Libraries Strategic Plan is to provide instructional programming that increases
21st century literacy utilizing staff expertise and strategic partnerships. The
Literacy Without Barriers Adult Literacy Program
is a major component of that objective and will offer adult learners one-on-one
literacy tutoring by trained staff and volunteers at four Neuse Regional
Libraries locations: Kinston, La Grange, Snow Hill, and Maysville.
The
Adult Literacy Program provides personalized education to adults including ESL,
reading, writing, spelling, and math. Assessments are given to establish where
to start and the program is for anyone at any level who wishes to improve their
skills. ESL students who already speak English but wish to improve their
reading and speaking skills are also a perfect fit for this program. The
student’s curriculum is based on their assessments and they will receive
valuable firsthand feedback that helps emulate the language.
The
primary goal of the Adult Literacy Program is to improve student’s lives. By
building their math, reading, and writing skills, and by improving English for
ESL learners, adults can find jobs, improve their socio-economic status, enjoy
better health, and educate their own children. An increase in educational level
will be the first step toward a brighter future.
For ESL learners, there are several benefits to improving their English. They are able to communicate better with native English speakers and bridge the gap between their families and the surrounding community. READ MORE ➤➤
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Sulphur Times: 10.22.2020
The
Oklahoma
Department of Libraries (ODL) has awarded 23 Health Literacy Grants
totaling more than $161,000 to libraries and adult literacy programs for the
2020-2021 grant cycle. Grantees will use the funds to provide a variety of
health and wellness programs for the state’s residents. Programs during the
2019-2020 cycle attracted a record 32,000 Oklahomans, many of them
participating in virtual programming because of the coronavirus pandemic.
Among
the grantees was The Southern Oklahoma Library System
(SOLA), which covers much of the south-central Oklahoma area. It was awarded a
$9,000 Health Literacy Grant.
The
grant will provide programming at the library system’s eight branches in Atoka,
Carter, Johnston, Love, and Murray counties. Activities will include exercise
classes and healthy food demonstrations, as well as outreach to senior centers
and veterans centers with balance and exercise classes. The provision of
Facebook portals will help seniors in nursing homes and residential facilities
connect with family members during the pandemic.
Each
year, grant applicants propose programs to meet their community’s identified
health needs. This year’s programs will include information sessions on
physical and mental health, virtual and outside exercise classes, cooking and
nutrition classes, community vegetable gardens, Story Walks in public parks,
and even a bicycle safety and bicycle lending program.
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