This study outlines some of the literacy problems of immigrants to Canada and the attempts being made to overcome these problems. The study first examines some of the popular definitions of literacy with a view to finding one that might be a goal for all illiterates in Canada regardless of their birthplace. Next, the latest data are analyzed to…

Evaluates Moira Juliebo's research report (same issue) on early literacy development. Asserts that basic concepts and attitudes toward literacy, reading, and writing must be reformulated, focusing on what "non-readers" know and can do in interactions with print rather than on what they can not do. (MM)

"GED Items" is published by the GED Testing Service of the American Council on Education. This volume contains six issues, each containing several articles related to adult education, equivalency testing, and the General Educational Development (GED) program. In the lead article of the first issue, Judith Anderson discusses the Internet…

This directory presents, in narrative form, core information about the operations of approximately 100 Aboriginal literacy programs throughout Canada. To qualify for inclusion in the directory, each program had to offer basic, functional, or advanced literacy training; offer literacy training in English, French, or an Aboriginal language; be…

Describes the ALPHA series of publications, an action-research project on literacy and education. Explains that ALPHA began as a literacy movement in Quebec, Canada, and is now focused on alternative education, basic education, and sustainable communities throughout the world. (Contains 26 references.) (NB)

This document is a script for a videotape highlighting an oral history project conducted in Sarnia, Ontario (Canada), with Chippewa Indians. The script contains both a narrative explaining the process of implementing an oral history project and producing the tape and vignettes of the oral history as told by the older Indians. The script explains…

This paper provides a transcript of a videotaped roundtable discussion on illiteracy among young people (aged 16-30) in Canada. The discussion centered mainly on French-speaking Canadians and school dropouts. Panelists declared that the present adult literacy education system focuses on adults and that young people cannot fit into that system.…

This document contains six papers describing program-based research from rural literacy program in Ontario, Canada. Some of the reports describe action research from pilot projects. The papers raise questions about responding to the special challenges of rural needs, such as whether there is an additional expense to providing service of equal…

A literacy needs assessment on an aboriginal island reserve in Canada was conducted to address courses to improve the literacy of adult aboriginal students. Fifty-one adults responded to the questionnaire relative to the need to initiate an adult education program. Questionnaire results indicated that secondary school upgrading courses in…

This annotated bibliography lists more than 340 resources for adult literacy programs (especially in Canada). All materials are listed by title; grade levels, prices, International Standard Book Numbers, and order numbers are included when available. Resources that include skills instruction are grouped into the following sections: reading,…

This handbook, to be used in literacy instruction programs, particularly with women, contains six articles concerning women and literacy written by women in Ontario. The articles are the following: "Feminism and Literacy" (Naomi Garber, Jenny Horsman, and Tracy Westell); "Looking at 'Ism's': Visible Minority Women and Literacy"…

This document addresses literacy partnerships and presents a guide for community organization and program development. Section 1, "Developing a Community Literacy Organization," provides a framework for planning. It covers getting started, becoming a society, building a strong board, conducting effective meetings, accessing the media,…

Many older Canadians (almost half, by some surveys) have low levels of functional literacy that lead to problems with everyday life. More than half of Canadians over age 55 have less than a grade 9 education, and they often have lower incomes than more literate seniors. However, older people are the smallest group represented in adult basic…

Developed by a Canadian volunteer organization, this textbook for high school and adult English-as-a-Second-Language (ESL) and literacy students explores current international events and social issues using both personal and global perspectives. It includes personal stories of people's lives, discussions of social and political issues in a wider…

The Saskatchewan Federation of Labor (SFL) conducted a Workers' Education for Skills Training, or WEST Program, to upgrade its membership's basic literacy skills. The purpose of the WEST Program was to develop, ensure access to, and build support for a workplace literacy program designed to meet the diverse needs of affiliates' members. Six…