Last updated 3/4/03
by David J. Rosen
Boston
Massachusetts
Questions Most Frequently Asked About Working in Adult Literacy
Prepared by the Adult Literacy Resource Institute
Last updated May 10, 2002
1) What is "literacy"?
"Literacy" is a broad, fluid term that is impossible to define in isolation from a specific time, place, and culture. Definitions of literacy share an emphasis on reading, writing, and, usually, mathematics but differ in their descriptions of the skills and abilities required. "Functional literacy" can be defined as the ability to read, write, comprehend, compute, think critically, problem solve, and communicate well enough to meet personal goals as family and community members, citizens, consumers and job holders. In Massachusetts in the first decade of the 21st century, many would say that "functional literacy" means at least high school level skills.
2) What does adult literacy education encompass?
3) What do we know about students in adult literacy programs?
4) What are the different types of programs that offer adult literacy services?
Adult literacy providers include:
5) What is the funding situation for adult literacy in the state and in
the country?
There is a tremendous need for adult literacy instruction; many programs have waiting lists that are months, or even years, long. Funds have expanded both federally and in Massachusetts over the past decade, but it's still far from enough.
6) Where do people in this field "come from"?
There is no single basic route to entering the field (as there is, for instance,
with K-12 education), and people come into this field from a wide variety
of backgrounds and along a great number of different paths. People who go
into adult literacy work include:
7) Do I need a bachelor's degree? A master's degree?
Different programs have different qualifications when hiring. This applies to experience, training, credentials --to all types of qualifications. With regard to degrees, a bachelor's degree is often required, but not always, while a master's degree is often preferred, and sometimes required. Whether a degree is required (and if so, in what) varies from job to job, depending, for example, on the nature of the position (teacher, administrator, or counselor, for instance), on the policies of the individual program, and on the requirements (if any) of the funding source.
8) Do I need a teaching license (certification)?
Again, different programs have different hiring policies. Community-based programs, for example, usually do not require a teaching license. This is partly because a teaching license in Massachusetts in the field of adult basic education is voluntary. Some organizations may require that adult education programs hire only licensed teachers such as local school systems or state corrections institutions. An elementary, secondary or adult education license will meet this requirement. Beginning in October, 2001, an adult basic education licensing process was made available by the State Department of Education. For further information go to http://www.doe.mass.edu/acls/abecert/ and http://www.sabes.org/license/index.htm
9) Do I need special training/education?
Staff at adult basic education programs do need some sort of training or education, both in working with adults generally and in the specific area in which they're working (for example, teaching reading, teaching English as a second language, counseling, etc.). Sometimes people obtain this through "pre-service" education and training before getting a job and sometimes through "in-service" training and education that takes place while on the job. The Adult Literacy Resource Institute is a major source of this training in the greater Boston area.
10) "I've taught kids for years; isn't that enough experience?"
Teaching adults is very different from teaching kids. While the teaching experience with children itself is valuable, it's not sufficient. Teachers who have worked with children need to learn how to work with adults. Again, this could happen through either pre-service or in-service training, or through pursuing an adult basic education teaching license.
11) Where can I get education/training in this field?
12) How can I get experience in this field?
The obvious answer is by working in the field over a period of time. But, of course, there's always that problem of breaking into the field -- it's hard to get experience without a job and it's hard to get a job without experience. However, there are some ways of getting experience other than having a "regular" job. You can get experience by volunteering as a tutor or in some other capacity at a program. You might initially get a small part-time job through which you can gain the experience that will be helpful in going for other positions. Some programs have "teacher aide" or "teaching assistant" positions for which they are looking to hire beginning teachers.
13) Do I need to speak other languages?
In general, no. The major exception is those ESOL/ABE programs that use bilingual education approaches and therefore require that their teachers speak both English and the first language of the students. And knowing another language would always be considered a "plus" in this field.
14) Who are the programs looking to hire?
Different programs have different priorities in their hiring. A particular
program may emphasize any of the following by looking for people who:
Throughout the state, the average salary for all full-time (35-40 hrs/wk) teachers is around $30,000, while the average wage for all part-time teachers is around $17/hr. Average starting salaries for full- and part-time teachers would be lower. In some settings, such as workplace education, pay may be higher, while in other settings, such as at community-based organizations, the pay scales may be lower. Efforts are being made to try to improve the pay (and benefits) for teachers in this field, and the primary funder of ABE programs, the Massachusetts Department of Education/Adult and Community Learning Services, has committed to improving salaries and benefits in the field.
16) What are the benefits?
A typical benefits package consists of 2-4 weeks of vacation, sick leave, a few personal days, standard holidays and partial (occasionally full) health insurance. A few programs provide life insurance and retirement benefits. Programs that employ exclusively part-time teachers generally do not provide health insurance coverage, while programs that employ some full-time teachers typically offer pro-rated coverage for part-timers.
17) Are most jobs full- or part-time?
There is a significant number of full-time jobs; however, most jobs are part-time due primarily to lack of funding.
18) What are the hours?
Classes for adults are held mornings, afternoons, and evenings, depending upon the program. Therefore the number of hours and work schedule will vary from job to job. Some teachers might work during the day, or only evenings, and some might work a combination of day and evening hours. Some programs also offer Saturday classes.
19) Is there job security?
There is no simple answer to this question. Unlike public schools which are institutionalized, adult literacy/ESOL programs are usually funded on a year-to-year basis so job security is contingent upon continued funding.
20) How do I find out about job openings?
Here are some helpful sources of job listings:
21) What organizations provide additional information for those interested
in this field?
Our thanks to the Boston Adult Literacy Fund
for their help with the answers to some of these questions.
Page last updated 3/4/03 by David J. Rosen