04 Dec Thinking about University study in adult LND teaching?
Two graduating students from Charles Sturt University and the University of Technology, Sydney talk about their courses preparing them for adult literacy and numeracy teaching. Plus more information from the Program Coordinators.
From Tim – graduating student Charles Sturt University
“While working with a community college delivering the TAE, I encountered adults and young people facing literacy challenges and noticed significant gaps between the course content and the actual needs of students. This inspired me to better understand what is required to provide effective literacy and numeracy support. It might seem simple in theory—anyone can do it, right? But I soon realized there is much more to it.
I enrolled in the Graduate Diploma of Adult Literacy and Numeracy and have completed the topics on teaching literacy and numeracy to adult learners with Jo Medlin. This was a highly positive and collaborative experience, as fellow students brought diverse perspectives to our tutorials. It has been an eye-opening journey, revealing the biases and challenges that hinder individuals struggling with literacy. I have learned the importance of meeting students where they are, walking alongside them, and focusing on appropriate, engaging learning outcomes. However, significant gaps remain, especially in resourcing and funding, making it difficult to address these needs effectively.
The Commonwealth Supported Places for this course have been vital to encourage more adult and vocational educators to not only build their skills but also advocate for change in this critical area.”
From Lia – graduating student, University of Technology, Sydney
“I’ve just completed the Graduate Diploma in TESOL and Applied Linguistics at UTS and really enjoyed it! I would absolutely recommend the course to anyone who is interested in becoming an adult literacy and numeracy teacher. I found many of the subjects to be thought provoking and particularly enjoyed content that expanded my world view by challenging social stereotypes about literacy and numeracy learners and learning. I also learned a lot about how to incorporate social justice, critical literacy and critical numeracy into my teaching and will be doing my best to put this into action as I step into the classroom next year! It was also a joy to meet so many fellow classmates from all over the world and to learn with them.”
More about the courses
Adult Language, Literacy and Numeracy and Charles Sturt University
Charles Sturt University has been delivering courses for teachers in the vocational education and training (VET) sector for more than 25 years. These courses range from an Associate Degree in Adult and Vocational Education, through to a Master of Adult and Vocational Education. In 2013, the university introduced a Graduate Diploma of Adult Language, Literacy and Numeracy; a course designed to provide people teaching in adult and vocational situations with the necessary skills and knowledge to support their learners to develop the literacy and numeracy skills for them to succeed in their learning and in the workplace. More that ten years later, the need for specialist adult literacy and numeracy teachers remains; and Charles Sturt University continues to offer the Graduate Diploma of Adult Language, Literacy and Numeracy.
Charles Sturt also offer a Bachelor of Adult and Vocational Education (Language, Literacy and Numeracy). The Language, Literacy and Numeracy major allows students to focus on further developing their knowledge and skills towards teaching adult literacy and numeracy programs, or to enhance their ability to teach any of their students that need additional literacy or numeracy support.
If you are teaching adults; whether in the VET sector, adult community sector or any adult teaching situation, or you are a specialist language and literacy teacher (or want to be one), you may want to consider the Bachelor of Adult and Vocational Education (Language, Literacy and Numeracy) or Graduate Diploma in Adult Language, Literacy and Numeracy (can exit with a Graduate Certificate). The courses are delivered fully online, so you can study from anywhere in Australia, and our lecturers are active and experienced adult literacy and numeracy teachers.
The Bachelor degree is currently under review and the redesigned course will include more foundation skills content, and will allow an Associate Degree that focusses on adult literacy and numeracy. If you would like more information, the following links are to the course brochures, or feel free to contact the Course Director Dr Daryl South [email protected] (ask about credit for previous learning or where we are going with foundation skills). https://study.csu.edu.au/courses/bachelor-adult-vocational-education https://study.csu.edu.au/courses/graduate-diploma-adult-language-literacy-numeracy
University of Technology, Sydney
The Graduate Diploma in TESOL and Applied Linguistics (course code C06116) at UTS treats adult literacy and numeracy education as a social justice agenda. Teaching Adult Literacy and Numeracy is the specialisation stream within this course for students who wish to gain a qualification to teach literacy and numeracy to adults.
The UTS program places the learners and their contexts at the centre of the curriculum. The curriculum ensures that students gain the specialist knowledge and skills to teach literacy and numeracy to adults in adult and vocational education settings in addition to the foundational linguistic and pedagogical knowledge. Together, the curriculum equips graduates with knowledge and skills to teach diverse learners how to negotiate different literacy and numeracy demands they encounter in the range of different contexts in their lives. The teaching and learning approach modelled and taught in the course is based on an asset-based teaching approach, that is, starting with the knowledge and experiences that the learners bring to the learning as their ‘funds of knowledge’ to build on, rather than focusing on the learners’ needs as deficits.
Two periods of supervised practicum placements in adult and vocational education contexts form a critical component of the curriculum. The curriculum is both research and practice informed. The academics in the program are active researchers with strong connections to the English language, literacy and numeracy industry. UTS has the longest history in adult literacy and numeracy teacher education of all universities in NSW, and many of the teachers in leadership roles in adult education providers are UTS graduates.
For further information, contact the program coordinator Dr Keiko Yasukawa at [email protected]