The Big Picture

Literacy in CanadaDeveloped by Chris HarwoodCanadian Literacy and Learning Network – www.literacy.ca

OutLiNe

Part 1: Literacy in Canada

Part 2: Literacy Facts

Part 3: Challenges and Barriers

Part 4: Canadian Literacy and Learning Network

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Part ONe

Literacy in Canada

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LiteraCy is a seriOus issue

The International Adult Literacy and SkillsSurvey (IALSS) was released in 2005

It clearly shows that millions of Canadiansstruggle with literacy challenges

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uNesCO DeFiNitiON OF LiteraCy

Literacy is the ability to identify, understand.

interpret, create, communicate, compute and use

printed and written materials associated with varying

contexts. Literacy involves a continuum of learning

to enable an individual to achieve his or her goals, to

develop his or her knowledge and potential, and to

participate fully in the wider society.

Adopted by CLLN

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LiteraCy aND esseNtiaL skiLLs

HRSDC has introduced the term Essential Skills to define the transferable skills that everyone needs to succeed in life

4 There are 9 Essential Skills4 Gradually people across Canada are becoming

familiar with the term and its meaning

Essential Skills are also a structured way of thinking about Literacy

Literacy is the foundation of every Essential Skill

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a FOuNDatiON

Literacy and Essential Skills provide the foundation forlearning all other skills

4 They are needed for work, learning and life4 We need them to do things in our daily lives as

parents, students, workers, community members and citizens

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sOme examPLes

4 Reading a bus schedule

4 Reading the newspaper

4 Using a computer

4 Completing an application form

4 Understanding medications and how to take them

4 Voting in federal and provincial elections

4 Understanding the justice system

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WHO Has LiteraCy issues? 1

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4 People who experienced poverty, abuse, neglect, or discrimination when young may have poor reading skills due to interrupted schooling

4 Some children had undiagnosed learning disabilitiesand never became good readers

4 Seniors with an elementary education - reading skills not at today’s standard

4 Aboriginal People

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WHO Has LiteraCy issues?

4 On average, immigrants are better educated now thanin the past

4 However, many come from countries that do nothave English or French as a main language

4 Some immigrants

4 may be literate in first language but struggle with English or French

4 are not literate in first language and find it difficult to learn to read in a second language

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use it Or LOse it

4 Skills need to be used to stay sharp

4 Age is not important:4 children, teens, adults and seniors can lose skills

4 Skills are lost when people read less

4 Instead of reading they:

4 get news from television and radio

4 get their entertainment from TV, movies, and concerts

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LiteraCy aND esseNtiaL skiLLs

4 Essential Skills provide a common language for educators,

employers and service providers

4 Everyone needs Essential Skills to be able to function

effectively at work, at home and in the community

4 Essential Skills are adaptable to all situations

4 Essential Skills help people to be more productive and to

more easily learn new tasks

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esseNtiaL skiLLs

4 Reading Text

4 Document Use

4 Numeracy

4 Writing

4 Oral Communication

4 Working with Others

4 Continuous Learning

4 Thinking Skills

4 Computer Use

For more on essential skills go to hrsdc.gc.ca/essentialskills

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reaDiNg text – examPLes

4 Read and understand information in written messages and reports

4 Carry out written instructions

4 Read job ads

4 Read product warning labels

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WritiNg – examPLes

4 Write telephone messages

4 Write e-mails

4 Write notes from a meeting

4 Keep a “to do” list

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LiteraCy aND HeaLtH

We need literacy to:

4 find good health services

4 make healthy lifestyle choices

4 understand doctor’s information

4 take medication correctly

4 find and understand health and safety information

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LiteraCy aND tHe WOrkFOrCe

We need literacy to:

4 describe our skills and qualities

4 find jobs

4 do tasks in the workplace

4 change jobs

4 get promotions

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LiteraCy aND tHe FamiLy

Parents are a child’s first teacher

Children learn best with supportive families and

caregivers:

4 They follow the example of their parents / caregivers

4 They need literacy-rich homes

4 They need adults who are comfortable with the school environment

This helps them to be more successful in school

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LiteraCy aND esL

4 New immigrants need strong literacy skills tointegrate into Canadian society

4 Some immigrants are highly educated; some are not – many need support to improve theirliteracy skills in English

4 Some immigrants have been in Canada a long time and can speak well but have literacy issues

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esL LiteraCy LearNers

4 Less than 6 years of learning in home country

4 Not able to read their home languageor

Have limited reading skills in home language

4 Use a different alphabet

4 Have 8 years of schooling but have not developed study skills

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LiteraCy CONNeCtiONs

4 Justice

4 Finance

4 Consumer

4 Social Justice

4 Poverty

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Part tWO 2

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Literacy Facts

CLLN’s LeaDersHiP

4 14% of working age Canadian adults find everyday literacy difficult. Another 27% struggle with more complex materials

4 That’s 9 million adults

4 Over 7 million of them don’t identify literacy as an issue

4 The number is likely to rise to 15 million over the next 20 years

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LiteraCy LeveLs FOrCaNaDiaN aDuLts

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Level 4/519.5%

Level 114.6%

Level 338.6%

Level 227.3%

aDuLt LiteraCy aNDLiFe skiLLs LeveLs

Level 1 Task4 Use the label to find out how long you can take

headache pills at any one time

Level 2 Task4 Look at a magazine to find out about a plant for

the garden – size, sun/shade, zone

Level 3 Task4 Compare a movie review to see which of four was

most popular

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LeveL 1 FaCts

4 3.1 million adult Canadians read at this level

4 1.4 million of them are immigrants

4 54% are male and 46% are female

4 60% employed,12% unemployed, 28% not actively seeking employment

4 Education:

4 50% have less than high school

4 30% finished high school

4 20% have post-secondary education

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LeveL 2 FaCts

4 5.8 million adult Canadians read at this level

4 1.2 million of them are immigrants

4 52% are male and 48% are female

4 70% employed, 8% unemployed, 22% not actively seeking employment

4 Education:

4 28% have less than high school

4 37% finished high school

4 35% have post-secondary education

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LiteraCy iN CaNaDa 2

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Part tHree

Challenges and Barriers

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tHe CHaLLeNges

How to:

4 Promote literacy awareness4 Encourage people to improve their

literacy and essential skills

4 Provide the best programs to meet people’s needs

4 Provide training for internationallytrained professionals

4 Increase employers’ awareness of importance of essential skills for employees

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Barriers tO JOiNiNg a PrOgram

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4 Fear

4 Gaps in education

4 Negative experiences with education

4 Low self esteem

4 Lack of confidence

4 Family circumstances

4 Learning disabilities

4 Poverty

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OverCOmiNg Barriers 3

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Literacy practitioners are often skilled at helping learners to:

4 Feel accepted

4 Grow in self-esteem

4 Have confidence to try new tasks

4 Learn new skills

4 Reach their literacy goals

4 Have skills to enter chosen transition path

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Part FOur

Canadian Literacy andLearning Network

CLLN

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rOLe OF CLLN

4 Networking

4 Research

4 Government liaison

4 Communication

4 Collaboration

4 Capacity building

4 Learner development

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CLLN iNFOrms

4 Informs and advises the federal government, policy makers and the general public through:

4 reference groups and advisory committees

4 CLLN website

4 requests for information

4 research

4 project results

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CLLN researCH aND PrOJeCts

Recent projects include:4 Family Literacy

4 Mapping the Field of Family Literacy in Canada

4 Connecting ESL and Literacy4 Linkages

4 Accountability4 examining accountability-related practices in literacy

Proposed projects include:4 Scan of Literacy and Essential Skills in Canada

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CLLN COLLaBOrates aND sHares

4 Meets regularly with national literacy organizations to help improve literacy levels for adult Canadians

4 Publishes LiteracyExpress for the literacy field

4 Consults and partners with organizations dealingwith justice, health, ESL and family literacy

4 Has a comprehensive website (www.literacy.ca) that is regularly updated

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CLLN aND its NatiONaL LiteraCy NetWOrk

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Decoda Literacy Solutions

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Thank You.