Neo
01-19-2024, 02:01 PM
Being able to read is something most of us take for granted. But, not everyone is taught these essential skills at school.
One-in-six adults in England can barely read or write, according to the National Literacy Trust.
And despite the number of adult learners rising, literacy charities say too many people are still falling through the gaps.
Graham North, 69, has lived in Hull for all of his life. He had meningitis as a child, which meant he was often out of school.
He says he never quite caught up and now, 50 years later, he has decided to change that.
In November 2022 Graham was partnered with a reading coach, Geoff Bell, through charity Read Easy (https://readeasy.org.uk/).
https://images.ctfassets.net/pjshm78m9jt4/6bxHopu2yFs4fDi5a0l1Fs/326d8361fdf65ac260e8270d40318b54/Screenshot_2024-01-19_at_12.31.15.png?fm=jpg&fit=fill&w=650&h=367&q=80Geoff started with teaching Graham phonics, which involves matching the sounds of spoken English with individual letters or groups of letters.
Phonics are usually taught to children when they first start primary school.
Now, in January 2024, Graham is able to read a children's book from cover to cover.
He says learning to read has 'been like a flower opening up, and now the world is open to him', for the first time in six decades.
And he wants to encourage other illiterate adults to take the step into learning to read for the first time
https://www.itv.com/news/2024-01-19/its-never-too-late-to-learn-69-year-old-man-learns-to-read
This came as a shock to me to see that 1 in 6 adults in the U.K. can hardly read or write.
This article brought home how I was effected by the optical BVD that I suffer with.
One-in-six adults in England can barely read or write, according to the National Literacy Trust.
And despite the number of adult learners rising, literacy charities say too many people are still falling through the gaps.
Graham North, 69, has lived in Hull for all of his life. He had meningitis as a child, which meant he was often out of school.
He says he never quite caught up and now, 50 years later, he has decided to change that.
In November 2022 Graham was partnered with a reading coach, Geoff Bell, through charity Read Easy (https://readeasy.org.uk/).
https://images.ctfassets.net/pjshm78m9jt4/6bxHopu2yFs4fDi5a0l1Fs/326d8361fdf65ac260e8270d40318b54/Screenshot_2024-01-19_at_12.31.15.png?fm=jpg&fit=fill&w=650&h=367&q=80Geoff started with teaching Graham phonics, which involves matching the sounds of spoken English with individual letters or groups of letters.
Phonics are usually taught to children when they first start primary school.
Now, in January 2024, Graham is able to read a children's book from cover to cover.
He says learning to read has 'been like a flower opening up, and now the world is open to him', for the first time in six decades.
And he wants to encourage other illiterate adults to take the step into learning to read for the first time
https://www.itv.com/news/2024-01-19/its-never-too-late-to-learn-69-year-old-man-learns-to-read
This came as a shock to me to see that 1 in 6 adults in the U.K. can hardly read or write.
This article brought home how I was effected by the optical BVD that I suffer with.