Adult Reading Challenge – Wexford Refugee Programme (Enniscorthy and Wexford Town) WWETB in partnership with Wexford County Library
The Adult Reading Challenge for Wexford Refugee programme was launched in Wexford library on Thursday 21st September with learners from Wexford and Enniscorthy Refugee Resettlement Programme.
As part of the Wexford Refugee Language and Orientation Programme WWETB liase with their local library for one session per week. This has involved setting up learners as library members, how to use library on line, downloading relevant apps, taking out and returning books etc.
To ensure continued motivation and commitment for the duration of the 45 week programme it was decided to introduce an Adult Reading Challenge (based on a UK model). This challenge will be available to all levels of language and literacy within the group.
The purpose of the Adult Reading Challenge is to inspire less confident readers to develop an enjoyment of reading at the same time as improving their literacy skills.
The aim is to encourage participants to feel part of a community of readers.
Learners will be encouraged to pick six reads of their choice over the duration of the challenge (September 2017 to June 2018). They will record their reading in a diary provided which will be verified by WWETB staff (through chat/discussion etc).
This can include all kinds of text such as poems, song lyrics, games, card games, recipes, magazines, newspapers, e-books, audio, web sites as well as books. Or some piece of suitable text that challenges the individual learner.
There is no set of books for this challenge and no stipulation that only books can be used. The whole aim is to engage people in text/conversational english.
The reading can also be a customised task for the learner where they are individually challenged to use the English Language (going to the shop/bank etc).
On completion of each reading/language task, with verification, the learner will receive an appropriate incentive from local library staff.
Some learners may progress quicker than others. It is important to motivate learners to participate but only at a pace that suits them. Above all, it should be an enjoyable experience.
To keep motivation throughout the challenge Wexford and Enniscorthy library will curate 5 events over the 9 month period, on various topics (eg author visit, music, cooking, horticulture, weather). These events will occur in the library on the learners regular library visit and related reading stock will be displayed.
There will be 6 incentives in total culminating in an end of challenge ceremony where all learners will receive a certificate of achievement and a quality incentive.
Celebration is a major part of the Adult Reading Challenge which we will be encouraging between the library events above and the incentives.
For further information see www.readingahead.org.uk.