Literacy of Young Adults Learning at Adult Gymnasiums: Literacy or Illiteracy?

Abstract

Abstract The article based on the sociocultural approach to literacy (Barton & Hamilton 1998, Barton 2007, Eames 2006, Gee 2012). The literacy has to do with reading, whereas multiple abilities to “read” certain types of texts in certain ways or at certain levels are used. This allows to claim that in that area various types of abilities are needed depending on the type of literacy and there is a set of literacy practices (Gee 2012, 40). Based on sociocultural approach conducted in 2007 the survey Literacy level of students of adult gymnasiums. The survey focuses on the analysis of literacy of young adults learning at adult gymnasiums in Estonia. The main research question was: how do young adults who learn at adult gymnasiums assess their coping with literacy-related activities and what are their skills in reading texts with different degrees of difficulty? The survey revealed that the majority of young adults who had had reading difficulties during childhood also experienced reading difficulties as adults. Significant proportion of young adults learning at adult gymnasiums had difficulties with finding necessary information in written texts and using this information.