PAGE 10 April 15, 1985

 

 

 

I-Care at Douglas College

Most of us don’t have any problems
with reading and writing so it is hard
to believe that there are about five
million people in Canada who function

 

by LINDA CALDWELL

 

below the grade eight level. Among

these people there are one million who
find it difficult to read material that is
above the grade five level.

In 1981, Census Canada estimated
that British Columbia had a population
of 2,744,467 and among these people,
53,710 have less than five years’
schooling....There are also 220,980
people who have five to eight years of
schooling in the population aged
fifteen or over, and are out of school.

Joyce Cameron is the instructor of
Basic Literacy in the ABE (Adult Basic
Education) program at Douglas
College.

Within ABE is a program called
Il-Care, which means Individual Com-
munity Adult Reading Education. It is
a training program for volunteer tutors
who help to teach the students to read.
Eileen Bowcott is the Co-ordinator of
Volunteer Training.

In order for a person to function
easily in our society he must be able to
read. This is called functional reading,
and may include:

- getting a driver’s license;

- filling in an application form;

- voting;

- using a telephone book;

- shopping for groceries;

- reading a newspaper;

- reading cookbooks or menus;

- using recreational facilities or comm-
unity groups, police or fire depart-
ment;

- reading labels on prescriptions or
household preparations;

- writing letters;

- reading schedules from bus depots,
airports or train stations;

- preparing a resume;

- reading a trade manual or a guide
book from work.

These are activities that most of us

take for granted.

The students choose to come to this
program, not because they have to,
but because they want to. They come
to learn how to read, or if they already
know how to read they come to
improve their reading skills.

Their families may have been af-
fluent, or maybe not so well off. The
student may have had a job, or have
never worked at all. It could be that a
student had missed out on learning to
read and write due to geographic or
economic reasons. Possibly it was
difficult for a student to travel to
school, or maybe an illness had put a
stop to their learning.

Sometimes a student who enrolls in
this program is not totally illiterate, so
an assessment is made to see how
much the student already knows about
reading. There are several classes —
beginners, intermediate and advanced,
and as aStudent progresses, he moves
up into the next class. He may be just
learning to read, or may be fluent in
reading and improving reading skills.

A student may need special teaching
techniques if he has any auditory or
visual trouble.

Volunteer tutors have been used in
other parts of Canada and in other
countries. It has been shown by

experience that students, people in
trades and business, housewives, and
retired people can be successful in
literacy training. A student can have
his confidence and morale boosted by
a volunteer tutor. He can have his

reading skills improved to a point
where he will feel ready to continue his
education in group study, or in a night
class at a community college. Once a.
person sees himself as a success at
learning, he can make his own life.

 

while we do all the driving!

for any budget.

rewarding way to get there.

obtain your Youth Canrailpass.

 

If you want to see a lot of Canada for as little as possible,
a VIA Youth Canrailpass is just the ticket, because
the more you use it, the more you'll save! And with
VIA Rail, you just sit back, relax and soak up the scenery,

Youth Canrailpasses are available anybody aged
12-24 for travel on all VIA routes. But you can buy one
just for the West, the East, for the area between Québec acl
City and Windsor, as well as for coast-to-coast. A choice

You can travel as often as you like, whenever you like, i
and stop-over wherever you like. Simply pay for your
pass before your first departure, then all your tickets #
are issued at no extra cost while your pass is valid. You $90
need a ticket for all trains and reservations are required
for reserved seats...but there’s no extra charge.

With your Youth Canrailpass, you know exactly what
your trip will cost before you set off. It’s the smart, low-
cost way to see Canada...on your own or with friends.

With VIA, you're in a special world of comfort and calm.
The train. The perfect way to start a trip and the most

To get going, see your Travel Agent or call VIA Rail to

The Magic of VIA's
Youth Canrailpass.

The More you Travel. The More you Save.

 

 

 

 

 

 

8-day 15-day 22-day 30-day
CROSS-CANADA PASS
$230* $250*
= $300** $325**
WINNIPEG AND EAST
$150* $175*
$190** $220** =
WINNIPEG AND WEST
$145* $160*
$185** $205** a
QUEBEC CITY/WINDSOR CORRIDOR
$115*
$90** $115** = =

 

 

to January 4.

 

*Pass valid until June 14, 1985 and from September 16, 1985.

**Price for high season: from June 15—September 15 inclusive.
A Youth Canrailpass entities the holder to coach travel. Dayniter, club or sleeping
car accomodation, as well as meals, may be purchased by paying the applicable
supplemental charge. Not valid for travel on April 4, April 8 or from December 15

UM,

@ Take the Train.