CentroLatinoLiteracy.org

Principles

In Centro Latino’s work teaching literacy, we have encountered both psychological and technical factors that can make it hard for students to learn. Below is a brief list and a few suggestions for overcoming barriers:

Psychological Factors:

Confidence – Many people who do not know how to read have the idea that they cannot learn and this self-image prevents them from learning. It is very important that your student senses your respect and comprehension, but not pity.

Motivation – Sometimes people get used to not knowing how to read and write and it seems easier to them not to make the effort to learn. One way to motivate your student is to remind him/her of the goal(s) that s/he had when s/he began the program. You can also suggest that s/he remembers a situation that was difficult or uncomfortable because s/he did not know how to read or write. Did s/he have to ask for help to pay bills or fill out forms?

Persistence – Learning requires persistent effort. It is not quick or easy. It is important to be honest with your student that s/he will need to study consistently over a period of weeks or months. Remind him/her of other tasks s/he has achieved with persistent effort. Does s/he remember how much practice it took to learn to ride a bicycle?

Patience – It is easy to become impatient when it feels like you are not advancing. Pay attention to small gains or improvements and point them out. For example, s/he can now recognize a new syllable or word. Encourage your student to be patient with him/herself.

Enjoyment – Learning is hard work, but it can also be fun. Help your student find humor or enjoyment in the process, otherwise it could become drudgery and s/he is less likely to persist. For example, we had one student who thought of the loop in the letters "b" and "d" as a stomach and would remind herself that the "b" had the stomach in front and the "d" had the stomach in back. Be playful, but make sure your student never feels that you are laughing at him/her.

Technical Factors:

Use of the educational tools (pencil, mouse, etc.) – Break the task into its component parts. Demonstrate the first part slowly and briefly and then have the student practice as long as s/he needs to feel comfortable before moving on to the next small step.

For example, to teach a non-literate student to use a pencil, first show him/her how to hold the pencil. Then have him/her draw a straight line. If s/he cannot do it right away, put your hand gently on his/hers and guide it. Then ask the student to try it again without your help. Next show the student how to draw circles and have him/her practice. Be patient and reassuring without being patronizing.

Different learning modes – Each one of us has a preferred mode of learning, but we do not always know how we learn best. Help your student figure out what works best for him/her.

Memory – Many people have difficulty remembering everything they have learned. The best way to retain something new is to practice it constantly and to connect it to something practical in your life. Ask the student to combine the syllables that s/he has studied to create new words or to search for syllables that s/he has studied in words on the street.

To learn more, check out these resources: