INTRODUCTION This booklet is intended as a resource that can be used in a variety of flexible and creative ways to meet a wide range of needs in rural literacy programs. The concept of a farming-based language-learning resource grew out of our experience with new Canadians who immigrated to Manitoba to farm and who needed (quickly) a working vocabulary to enable them to interact with neighbors and the rural business community. We knew of no materials that effectively addressed this need. Such a resource, we felt, could serve as well in a rural literacy class as in an ESL class. The writing samples in this booklet represent a variety of common genres. Written at various reading levels, using verb forms of varied complexity, these pieces can serve as models and springboards for oral and written language activities. We hope, in the near future, to develop an activity book to accompany this resource. The vocabulary lists, by no means exhaustive, are generally divided into Content Words, based on pictures and text, and Related Words, which can obviously be expanded or adapted for individual needs. Our thanks to Roblin artist John Morrall for his excellent illustrations. As a means of stimulating vocabulary growth, they form an integral part of this material. Thanks to Muriel Lowe for her contributions regarding dairy and hog farming, to several farmer friends and students for their practical advice, and to the Labour Market Training Project in Russell for the use of LMTP's computer. We gratefully acknowledge the funding received for this project from the National Literacy Secretariat; the encouragement and guidance of Marie Matheson, our Rural Literacy Coordinator; and the moral support of our Literacy Working Group at L.E.A.R.N. (Lifelong Education for Adults: Reading and Numeracy). Dan and Ellen Friesen |
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