Literacy tutor helps fill the gaps
DAILY GRIND There are lots of reasons why someone might struggle to read and write, but choosing to go back and learn how is not always easy. Reporter Karina Abadia went to meet a literacy tutor to find out the value of teaching these life skills.
A group of Ethiopian women who could barely write their own names were the first students Mel Shaw taught after completing her studies as a literacy tutor.
The enormity of the task might make some people run a mile but it made Ms Shaw fall in love with the profession.
The change in the women’s lives was huge, she says.
‘‘They were able to hold their heads up, look me in the eye and articulate their feelings. That’s something you can’t quantify with an assessment or a test.’’
The Avondale
resident works at Adult Literacy Tamaki Auckland. She is the head tutor at the Freemans Bay branch.
The profession appealed to Ms Shaw because her father was a high achieving business- man and dyslexic so she knew problems with literacy should not be a barrier to success.
As part of her training she volunteered at Welsey Community Centre for two years before joining Adult Literacy Tamaki Auckland in 2009.
Ms Shaw teaches on the Stepping Up course which covers all spectrums of literacy – speaking, listening, reading, writing, numeracy and computer skills as well as job skills and study pathways. The demand for support into study and employment has increased substantially in recent years, she says.
The age of the students in her current course ranges from 18 to 54 years old. Building rapport is paramount, she says.
‘‘It has got to be an equal, trusting relationship because often healing has to happen.
‘‘A lot of our learners have had really negative experiences with the school system.
‘‘Their literacy problems are often due to gaps in their school life, being moved around a lot, sickness, poverty, or because they have learning difficulties.’’
But not everyone who enrols has a low level of literacy, middle management staff also attend classes to improve their report writing.
People sometimes feel a great deal of shame when approaching the organisation but it is amazing how being among peers can help them overcome their limitations, the 38-year-old says.
Ms Shaw is hugely proud that two-thirds of her learners on the Stepping Up course have found fulltime employment and that a couple have gone on to tertiary study.
‘‘That’s the gift. We actually make a huge difference in people’s lives with just a few hours of study a week.’’