PRINCIPLES OF TEACHING ADULT LEARNERS

An adult who is struggling to learn to read should be treated like any other adult. S/he may not be able to read and write with ease, or speak English, but these adults can do many other things. All adults have skills.

An adult learns best by association.

Adults like to read and talk about things which relate to real life experiences, or which will give them a new experience. In other words, learning needs to be relevant to every day life to make it meaningful.

Adult learners should be given the opportunity to teach him/herself as much as possible, and to participate in their learning experience. (Participatory learning is just the opposite of sitting in a hall and hearing a lecture.)

The tutor must be careful to maintain the respect of the learner. An adult should not be criticized or embarrassed if a lesson is not understood, or if something needs to be repeated.

An adult's time is valuable. Every minute of the lesson should count. The learner should feel that s/he learns something at every session.

Adults come to learning with a lifetime of experience—some of it is useful and positive, some of it creates a negative feeling about learning, or about their ability to learn. The learner should have a feeling of success from the first session. Small successes are the foundation to long term success.

A cheerful and patient tutor makes the lesson interesting and the learning easier. If an adult learner does not attend a session, the tutor should contact the learner to find out why, in a non-threatening or judgmental manner.

The learner should have an opportunity to read or talk about something besides his/her text or workbook.

Please Remember: It takes great courage for an adult to come to an agency of strangers, and ask for help. It takes even more bravery to meet with a tutor for the first time.

TIPS for TUTORS OF ADULTS

Help your Adult Learner to help him/herself.

Begin on time and end on time.

Let the learner do the work.

Give praise and encouragement.

Don't ask something he or she will not know.

Don't tell the learner something they already know.

Don't ever scold or shout or sigh.

Try to teach something new at each lesson.

Be friendly, sympathetic and patient.

Don't talk down to your learner, or show off your knowledge.

There is a good chance that your learner can teach you something: perhaps something cultural, or a job skill…..or something about cooking or parenting, or they might share a life experience. Let your learner talk about their knowledge and skills if they want to.

Have fun with your teaching, and the learner will enjoy the experience too.

Forms for Tutors Now Available Here

Tutors can now download from this site two key Literacy Connections forms:

Volunteer and Student Activity Report
Individual Education Plan

Both of the forms available are in PDF format and will automatically invoke Adobe Acrobat Reader if it is installed on your system. If you do not have Adobe Acrobat Reader, a free copy may be obtained at the
Adobe Acrobat Download Site

Volunteer and Student Activity Report

Individual Education Plan

USEFUL WEB SITES for TUTORS OF ADULTS

	Adult Learning Activities
	Verizon Literacy Campus
	Learning Resources
	A Newspaper for New Readers
	The Writing Lab at Purdue