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Improving Adult Literacy in Scotland

Annex B

Quotes from learners

• My class is friendly and relaxed. I tell my tutors what I want to work on and what I need, and they help me to do that … I have learned new skills and made a lot of progress. I now have choices that I didn’t have before and I am looking forward to new adventures in my life.
• Being able to read and write has opened up a whole new world for me. I now have the confidence and the skills to learn about other things … and a thirst for learning that I never had before.
• I now take a lot more of an interest in things at home. I check my own bills … I am more confident about dealing with trades people ... and making improvements around the house. Now that I can read instruction leaflets I can buy flat pack furniture and put it together myself.
• My new skills have helped me perform better at work … I am now more able to take on additional responsibilities … My spelling has really improved and my boss says my written reports are much better.
• I find shopping easier. I can understand the offers displayed in shops … I can read recipes and work out ingredients and cooking times.
• Now that I can read, I can use the internet to find out about things which is good fun and very useful … I go to the library and also buy books to read at home.
• Now that I have improved my spelling and grammar I can now work towards getting qualifications … Being able to get help with my writing and spelling has helped me to pass my exams.
• I can now write and use computers with confidence. I write and send e-mails, add on attachments and send photos. This really helps me keep in touch with my family and my friends.
• I have learned a lot in class. My reading is a lot better. I can read TV magazines and send text messages to my friends from my mobile phone.
• As a result of working on my writing, I can now use more expressive words and have a better understanding of punctuation. I can structure my writing, produce better short stories and give my characters a voice … I have now written my autobiography. I am proud of myself because I could not have done it before.
• Coming to the class has helped me write properly and I now make very few mistakes … I can now proof-read and correct my own spelling … Now people can read the notes that I leave at work and at home …
• Since starting to develop my skills I have found that, after all these years, I am able to learn.
• Learning has helped me understand that having a learning difficulty does not mean I have to feel unconfident and that I should keep my head up.
• Coming to class has improved my skills and I can now help my wee brothers at home with their homework. I feel much more confident at home with my family.
• Learning to read and write properly has taught me that I am not stupid and has made me think more about what I want to do with my life … it has given me the confidence to search for jobs in areas I am interested in. I feel a lot more confident about my skills and myself.
• My literacy class has helped me improve my skills for writing job applications … I can now do CVs on the computer and feel more confident about attending job interviews. Learning has helped me focus on this. Now, I am looking for a job … whereas before I wouldn't have cared.
• I now feel less isolated … I know more about what is going on locally because I can now read leaflets at the library and the local newspaper … I can get involved in school and community activities.
• I can now read to my children and help them with their homework … I can write notes for my daughter to take to school, read her school reports and go parents’ evenings without worrying about what to say.
• I can now fill in forms and write a letter on my own which makes me feel that I can look after myself and not have to rely on other people.

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