Adult Literacy as Social Practice: More Than Skills

by Uta Papen

Overview

With a radically new perspective on reading, writing and mathematics for adults, this refreshing and challenging book shows how teachers and curriculum developers have much to gain from understanding the role of literacy in learners' lives, bringing in their families, social networks and jobs. Looking at the practicalities of how teachers and students can work with social practice in mind, Adult Literacy as Social Practice is particularly focused on:

* how a social theory of literacy and numeracy compares with other theoretical perspectives
* how to analyze reading and writing in everyday life using the concepts of social literacy as analytical tools, and what this tells us about learners' teaching needs
* what is actually happening in adult basic education and how literacy is really being taught
* professional development.

With major policy initiatives coming into force, this is the essential guide for teachers and curriculum developers through this area, offering one-stop coverage of the key concepts without the need for finding materials from far-scattered sources.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780415353762
Publisher:	Taylor & Francis
Publication date:	06/30/2005
Series:	New Approaches to Adult Language, Literacy and Numeracy
Pages:	176
Product dimensions:	6.12(w) x 9.19(h) x (d)

About the Author

Uta Papen is Lecturer in Literacy Studies in the Dept of Linguistics at Lancaster University. She has published previously with Peter Lang

Table of Contents

1. The Field of Adult Literacy, Numeracy and ESOL - What Is It?: Definitions, discourses and metaphors 2. A New Way of Looking at Reading, Writing and Numeracy: Literacy and numeracy as social and situated practice 3. Reading, Writing and Numeracy in Context: Dominant and vernacular practices 4. The History and Current Context of Adult Literacy and Numeracy Education in the UK 5. Implications of the Social View of Literacy and Numeracy for the Policy and Practice of Adult Basic Education

Editorial Reviews

'This book is a very welcome addition to an increasing literature on ALLN, how it is defined, how it is used and what the implications are for practitioners and learners. In particular, this volume has a key aim to introduce readers to the social practice view of literacy and its implications for teaching and learning ALLN.' - London Review of Education

"The book assumes no prior knowledge of the topic and will serve as invaluable background reading for both students and experienced workers in the fields of literacy, TESOL, social work, and other education programmes...Papen certainly achieves her aim: to illustrate how a view of literacy from a social practice perspective lends itself well to ethnographic research." - TESL-EJ, December 2006, Volume 10, Number 3

From the Publisher