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Adult reading scheme calls for volunteers
Tuesday, July 11, 2006
Sandy McFarlane, coordinator of the Cayman Islands Reading Aides programme, with one of the tutors on the programme, Ross Clarke.
Cayman Islands Reading Aides (CIRA) is a non-profit organization that provides tuition in literacy and numeric skills for teenagers and adults in the Cayman Islands.
The programme began here in 1997, at the Church of Christ, when some visitors from the US introduced it to church members, and from there helped to organize a small core of volunteer tutors.
The programme quickly grew, so that soon other tutors outside the church were being invited to join.
In 2000 the programme was extended to cover prisons.
The group of volunteers has now grown to around 40, and their training is undertaken and coordinated by Sandy McFarlane, an employee of the Cayman Islands Stock Exchange.
All three of Cayman's Rotary clubs, Rotary Central, Rotary Sunrise, and the Rotary Club of Grand Cayman have been keen to support the programme since it first began here and July also marks Rotary International's designated 'Literacy Month'.
The Rotary Clubs provide funds for the programme's teaching materials, which include training manuals, books and videos.
One of the problems that the programme's organizers have encountered is the stigma attached to admitting someone cannot read or write, and the step that takes most courage is therefore the initial step of coming forward for help.
Ms McFarlane realizes their concerns, and quickly reassures the new students that they have done the right thing: "Once the students make that initial step of coming forward, they find that it wasn't as hard as they felt at first, because they quickly gain confidence once they see they are treated with integrity and respect.
"Their confidence builds quickly as they realize how fast they can progress," she said.
One of the students on the programme, Ruth Dennisur, has been participating in the programme for the past five months.
Explaining how she took that essential first step, she said: "I wanted to be a nurse, and go ahead and take all the tests and get into the system. I heard about the reading programme over the radio, and decided to call Sandy."
Over those five months, Ms Dennisur has made rapid progress, both in her ability to read, but also in increasing her level of confidence:
"I am reading quicker; I have more confidence in reading already, and I have just joined the Library," she said.
"Now, when I am having difficulty reading a word, I break it up into the individual sounds, and then I find I can read it after all, rather than just skipping around it, which is what I used to do."
Ms Dennisur's Tutor, Ross Clarke, spoke about some of his teaching techniques: "I note down the words she has trouble with, and type them out in a list.
"It's no good giving someone a sheet of words if they don't know how to pronounce them, so I also record my voice saying them on a CD," he said.
"I play back the CD he has made," Ms Dennisur said, "and it really helps me, as I read the words, and hear what they sound like. They are words I kept having difficulty with."
The programme is based on a series of one-to-one sessions with the tutors, normally two a week, for one-and-a-half hours each. The tutors and students follow the clear steps and exercises in the study material together.
"The time seems to go so quickly," Ms Dennisur commented.
Part of the programme's success is the care that Ms McFarlane takes in matching tutors with students. During the matching process, she takes into consideration several factors, such as the geographical location of the respective students and tutors, and the times that they are both available.
Ms McFarlane meets each of the prospective students first, a meeting aimed at building their confidence, and encouraging them that they have taken the right decision.
She listens to their individual needs, before matching them with one of her team of volunteer tutors.
Ms Dennisur is clearly very pleased with Ms McFarlane's choice of tutor, Mr Clarke: "Ross has a lot of patience, and he builds a lot of confidence in me," she said.
Ms McFarlane commented: "We cannot stress enough how successful this programme is. Any student embarking on this programme, and committed to it, is guaranteed that they will learn how to read and write.
"Students quickly learn they can succeed. As their self-esteem grows, they become able to achieve personal goals, such as helping their children complete their homework, or reading their children books, or doing one of the things that others take for granted, such as simply applying for a driver's license."
Although such achievements may not seem important to the larger community, Ms McFarlane explained, the reality is that one achievement can add to another, adding to the student's self esteem and confidence in participating in the community.
"For example, once a parent learns to feel confident reading to a child, they may also begin helping their child with homework, and from there they may begin attending PTA meetings," Ms McFarlane said.
"By using the network the student builds up from this process, he or she is then more able to find a job, or help others who are struggling, and so forth.
"Our aim is to work with the individual in order to help them achieve the goals they have set for themselves."
The programme follows the 'Laughbach Way to Reading' study materials, which provide the necessary skills both for tutor and student at every level of ability.
Potential tutors for the programme do not need to be 'experts,' as full training is given.
"We invite individuals who have a fairly good educational background to volunteer," Ms McFarlane said.
Appealing for new tutors (as well as students) to join the programme, Ms McFarlane said: "If you are an individual who wishes to participate in this worthwhile programme, and offer someone the 'gift' of reading or writing, then please contact CIRA at 9451934 or email mcfar@candw.ky for further information.
christopher@cymannetnews.com
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