Language or literacy? Stories of second language learners in adult basic education

Summary: Language or Literacy is a study conducted in order to identify the pathways that individuals take to become literate in English or French. Participants were selected from literacy and ABE programs in both colleges and community-based programs. Cases were also developed through workplace and community cultural settings to identify different pathways for different individuals. Individuals could be included in the study if they had resided in Canada for five or more years, if their English or French skills are competent for everyday conversation, those without post-secondary education in their mother tongue, and those with a rich background of literacy learning in Canada. The book contains nine different case studies of interactions between learners and practitioners across all of Canada. An analysis of the case studies highlights the issues common to them all. Profiling learners allows the researchers to define the larger issues surrounding ES/FS literacy in Canada. Recommendations are made as to how the process and system can be improved for the good of all Canadians.