6 Minute English: Illiteracy and Literacy Projects
Hosts:
Key Topics:
- Importance of reading
- Global illiteracy rates
- Literacy improvement projects in Bangladesh and the UK
Key Points:
Importance of Reading
- Reading is essential for daily activities, such as:
- Finding news.
- Buying groceries.
- Reading isn't just recreational but necessary for everyday life.
Global Illiteracy Statistics
- UN report estimates over 700 million adults worldwide are illiterate.
- Illiteracy excludes individuals from basic day-to-day activities.
Literacy Projects
Bangladesh: The Friendship Project
- Targets women and girls in coastal towns.
- Challenges:
- Frequent flooding leads to families relocating.
- Difficulty in accessing consistent education.
- Focus:
- Teaches reading, writing, and numeracy (basic math skills like counting).
- Impact:
- Rashida's story: Could only use a fingerprint as a signature; now can sign her name and manage expenses.
- Over 11,000 adults have completed the project.
UK: Read Easy
- Operates in the north of England.
- One in six adults struggle with literacy.
- Methodology:
- Matches adult learners with trained volunteers for one-to-one lessons.
- Peter's story:
- Had hearing problems, fell behind in school, couldn't read.
- Had to ask neighbors to read letters.
- Now, reading Harry Potter books and celebrates International Literacy Day.
Vocabulary
- Illiterate: Unable to read and write.
- Numeracy: Ability to understand basic math.
- Signature: Your name written in your own handwriting.
- To cheat: To trick or deceive someone for their money or valuables.
- Take for granted: To assume something is true without checking.
- Thick: Informal term for stupid.
International Literacy Day
- Celebrated on the 8th of September, highlighting the importance of literacy.
Conclusion
- Literacy is a crucial skill affecting many aspects of life.
- Projects in different countries show varied approaches to tackling illiteracy.
- Importance of addressing and supporting literacy initiatives globally.
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