The postmodernist lens provided a framework for understanding the changing identities and complexity of the learners' lived experiences. This made me aware of the need to provide a curriculum that could serve the needs of adult learners.
A JOURNEY THROUGH THE PLAINS OF ADULT LITERACY
Introduction
- Orientation
These are women whose voices are silenced by the power of the social upper class because they are from the working class. The purpose of this study and the critical question posed, and the scope of the study are defined by outlining its limitations.
Adult Literacy at Asoka Adult Basic Education Co-Operative
The poems are therefore an autobiographical account of the life of domestic workers in a poetic style. The themes of the poem resonate with this thesis: poverty, suffering, exploitation of labor, oppression of women and power relations.
Purpose Of The Study
- The Critical Question in this Research The critical question in this research is
- Limitations of the Study
Against this background, I foreground the purpose of this study and the critical question to be explored. All of them came from rural areas and lived either in informal settlements in urban areas or with their employers at the time of this study.
Words can be Loaded!!!
- The Concept of Literacy
According to Baynham (1995), the definition of literacy must be analyzed within its contexts of use. At the core of literacy is the understanding of an individual's ability to understand printed text and to communicate through print.
Literacy Rates: A Gloomy Picture For Women
Respond to the needs of the Republic and the labor market and of the communities served by the centers. It is clear from the policy document (Adult Basic Education Act, 2000) that the ABET policy responds to the needs of the Republic and the labor market and not to those of the communities served by the centres.
Why I Undertook the Journey?
As a facilitator of the English literacy class, I observed the students with great interest and discovered that they were having difficulty reading, especially at the beginning of the lessons. I found that to meet their needs, I had to research and prepare lesson content, which was time-consuming and required a lot of planning and resources.
Theoretical Frameworks
Summary and Overview
Without deeper insight into how literacy affects their lives, it is not possible for providers to provide meaningful education (Kulick & Stroud, 1993). In chapters five through nine, I analyze the data using my theoretical frameworks as guides for my data analysis.
TRAVELLING THE INFORMATION HIGHWAY AND BYWAYS
Orientation
I also found a blurring of the boundaries of theoretical frameworks, which are all part of the postmodern perspective (Kanpol & McLaren, 1995). The traveler visits small towns and picturesque villages that cannot represent the entire country, but are part of the country.
Critical Theory
- Paradox of Power: Power Liberates & Power Oppresses
Critical theory argues that such commonsense beliefs are not natural and that this is the first step towards enlightenment and emancipation (Gibson, 1986). Symbolic violence refers to the subtle process whereby the dependent classes, i.e. the working classes, take as 'common sense' ideas and practices which are actually against their best interests.
Freirean Theoretical Perspective
Freire challenges men and women who become literate to take ownership of the written code and to make themselves aware. In both feminist and critical theory, education is used as a tool to raise the level of consciousness of the oppressed so that they can be empowered and liberated.
Why A Black Feminist Perspective?
To be aware of the effects of male dominance, women must go through a process of female-focused re-education known as consciousness-raising. What is of great concern to the British black feminist is the exploitation and unfair treatment of women.
The Anthropological and Socio-Linguistic Perspectives
- Literacy: Relationship to its Actual Uses and Cultural Context Scribner & Cole (1981) conducted extensive research in Sierra Leone in North-
Here a certain kind of cultural capital,18 that of the dominant culture, is confirmed, legitimized and reproduced. However, some researchers have suggested that English should be part of the South African ABET curriculum.
Introduction
The examples I have cited have great significance for this study because they illustrate the impact of English literacy on adult learners. In the next section, I examine literature that will reveal insights into the practical issues that affect adult learners as they learn literacy.
The Role of the Teacher
- Teacher Identity
- Cultural Diversity
- Empathy /Ubuntu 19
- Educator 'Positioning' can it Create Power Relations?
He emphasizes that this resource should be encouraged and that black ethnic cultural identity should be positively reflected in the content of the curriculum. It is important that students are encouraged to question and discuss what they read from the beginning.
Learner Motivation
For him, this gives value and respect to the adult learner, because everyone can see and hear. From a critical theoretical perspective, seating arrangements can demonstrate how power relations can be perpetuated in the classroom.
Curriculum According to the Needs of the Learner
In the second experience, I show how literacy instructional materials have serious implications for literacy programs. The researchers attribute the program's success to the sensitivity of the teachers and materials designers to the needs of the women in the program.
Curriculum Women and Empowerment
Literacy in itself is not a means of social change, nor does it necessarily lead to economic improvement for individuals or groups. The evaluation of the program can be determined by whether students were able to achieve things that they would not have done before.
The Role Of Basic Readers In ABET
In the next section, I explain how the places I traveled could contribute to research in adult reading. In the next section, I explain how this study would help fill the gaps in adult literacy research.
The Need for Research in the Field of ABET
Conclusion
From the literature reviewed, there is overwhelming evidence that income-generating activities benefit adult literacy programs. Authors taking a critical and postmodernist perspective emphasize literacy for critical awareness and empowerment, while income generation advocates advocate adult literacy for financial gain.
POLICY ANALYSIS: A TRAVELLER IN SEARCH OF MEANING
- Introduction
- English Language: A Rugged Terrain
- The Myth, Fantasy and Reality of Impressive Policies 22
- Principles that Apply to ABET
- The Pied Piper Calls the Tune for the Globe Trotter
- Conclusion
In Table 3.1, I foreground the broad framework of education and position ABET in the NQF to provide a clearer understanding. The policy reveals a wonderful plan for the cause of South Africa's marginalized adult learners.
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
SELECTING THE VEHICLE FOR THE JOURNEY
Orientation
- Tuning the Vehicle for the Journey Ahead
I use critical and feminist approaches through a critical postmodern paradigm and argue that there is no clear window into the inner life world of adult students. I see reality as a construct in the minds of adult learners and believe that there is no single tangible reality out there.
Sampling the Vehicles
I obtained informed consent from adult students who were informed about the nature of the research. The network provides a quick overview of the four students that were selected for my study.
Life History: The Vehicle used in the Journey
The life story helped me to draw an in-depth portrait of the adult students and capture their interpretation of life. In the life history study, I conducted extensive interviews with the adult students with the aim of collecting a first-person narrative (Biklen, 1992).
Theories
I have to position myself as researcher and educator in terms of the power relations in this study. In this research I use the life history methodology and the primary instruments are interviews, autobiographies, classroom observation, document analysis.
The Site of the Study: Asoka Adult Basic Education Co-operative As a novice researcher I had lofty ideas about using the interpretative paradigm
- Staff Composition
Weiner, 1994) suggests that there are critical incidents or illuminating cases that can be used in the transformative feminist research pedagogy to enable greater understanding of the inequalities in power relations. 26 Joint Education Trust in South Africa: it was one of the most powerful funders in the field of ABET (Harley et al. 1996).
The Question of Validity: A Reliable Vehicle
- Triangulation
- Transferability
- Credibility
As a naturalistic researcher, I needed to demonstrate as accurately as possible the multiple realities of the students' life worlds. In my life history research, which spanned six years, there were many changes that occurred in the lives of the respondents.
Data Sources
- Research Instruments
This did not mean that as a teacher I designed the curriculum independently of the adult students. I was aware of some of the issues impacting the institution's adult learners and facilitators.
Autobiographies
- Collages
With Kendall's help, Nthunya was able to write an autobiographical account of her life, 'Singing Away The Hunger' (Nthunya, 1996). Professor Kendall was able to show students how to write an autobiography by illustrating Nthunya's life.
Classroom Observation
Documents
Reflective Journal
Unbundling The Data
Travelling Through a Maze
Using pattern analysis, I read through the transcripts of the interview schedules, autobiographies, and classroom observations to identify themes. It is necessary to review the data carefully and allow space for contemplation of the data because there are opportunities to uncover the rich meaning of the participant's life through the data.
Methodological Challenges
Conclusion
A JOURNEY INTO THE ADULT LEARNERS' LIFE WORLDS
- The Journey Continues
- Learner Profiles
- Portrait of Learners
- Autobiographies .1 Introduction
- Portrait: Maria
My analysis of each learner in the portrait focuses primarily on the central issue: the impact of the English literacy curriculum on adult learners. The autobiographical writings exposed the detailed tapestry of the learners' lives that they weave so uniquely.
LIKE AND DISLIKE
In power, the ANC promised the people that it would build houses for all and provide electricity to all, free education for six-year-olds, water and free medical treatment for pregnant women, and that was fulfilled. I am absolutely certain that the people will vote for the ANC government again in the future because they have achieved what we wanted.
WENT THROUGH IN MY JOB
Portrait:Bongiwe
She had little or no time with her family because she was forced to work every day of the week. She was the first adult student to break out of the mold of a domestic worker and become an entrepreneur.
LIKE AND I DISLIKE
Portrait:Cindy
While in prison, she had no change of clothes, towel, toiletries or money. In the bigger picture of her life, however, she was grateful to have her freedom.
When he saw me, he liked to play with me and I liked to play with him.
GOT MARRIED
I told my husband I don't want him anymore, I want all my clothes. I have to go back to my mother's house. I was angry and talked and talked to her, I said “what do you want for my husband.
LEFT MY HUSBAND
Agnes was forced to leave school because a gentleman, Joseph, found her suitable to be his bride. I want to learn more about English -to be able to read and write -I like to speak English so that I will get a better job.
Significance of Portraits and Profiles in Constructing Learner Identities From the analysis of all the data sources, the portraits and profiles assist in constructing
Her identity is influenced by the need to reshape the world to change what her father had built in her early childhood. Agnes' identity was shaped by the need to provide her children with love, education, and maternal support.
Concluding Comments
