National Adult Literacy Database

FREDERICTON, N.B.   ̶   In NALD’s original article about International Adult Learners’ Week (IALW) 2012, we outlined several tips that could be used to engage adult learners in education programs.

Michel Boulanger, a workplace learning specialist with Commission scolaire des Hautes-Rivières in Quebec, has since contributed the following tips for our readers:

• Find a teacher who is motivated and a motivator.
• Offer interactive teaching where learners are asked to get involved, share their opinions and help each other.
• Find a common target: a common goal that will rally the entire group.
• Speak so that adult learners can understand. Avoid educational jargon and hackneyed phrases.
• Be aware of your students’ capabilities and place yourself at their level.
• Be empathetic and a good listener at all times.
• Encourage respect for all and everything in the classroom.
• Offer lively, learning activities that are relevant to the learner’s everyday life.
• Incorporate the use of humour into your teaching.

Denis Bélanger of Centre de formation professionnelle 24-Juin, Sherbrooke, Quebec, says it is important for practitioners to have a good start-up activity.

“Have an introduction before explaining the core of the learning topic,” he said. “It is the funnel principle. Start at the periphery and move closer to the learning goal. After the introduction, it’s important to steer learners using clarification questions.”

More tips for engaging adult learners are included in ‘I’m still learning:’ NALD marks International Adult Learners’ Week.

Send your tips to contactnald@nald.ca.

International Adult Learners' Week (IALW) in Canada runs from March 24 to April 1, 2012. For more information, go to NALD’s IALW page.

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