Apart from my work as a writer, I am a teacher. I teach various subjects, but the most rewarding aspect of my work is teaching adults to read and write. I have been doing this most of my life, in a voluntary capacity as well as in my job.
It's wonderfully rewarding work and I urge anyone who has ever thought of helping someone to read, to seek some training and do it.
Also, if you know anyone who cannot read and you think they might like to change this, encourage them to seek out a literacy class or teacher. Most of my adult students come to their first class feeling incredibly nervous, sometimes even a little belligerent, and frequently totally negative.
It is wonderful to watch that change as slowly but surely people learn to read and a lifetime's burden of being made to feel stupid, ignorant or helpless is lifted.
As part of my job, I have worked on a website containing learning materials for ESL and Literacy students. Access to the site is free and there are many enjoyable and interesting reading activities to do. The site is called The Beach.
Also on the same site, you can order PageTurners - small adult literacy reading books which are written by myself two friends, also teachers. They are published by PRACE, an Adult Community Education provider, for whom I work. The books are simple-to-read stories, which are of interest to adult readers. They are generally funny and are illustrated with delightful cartoons, drawn by Moira Hanrahan. There are 17 titles so far; I have put up 12 covers below.
In the meantime, I urge you to do what you can to improve the level of literacy in your community, by donating time, effort or money to literacy work or simply by encouraging someone you know to take that first step.
home
| about Anne | about
writing | guestbook
mailbox | links
| contact