UPDATED May 22nd 2007
Areas from which we have recently received news of significant ongoing CLE literacy project work include The Philippines, Pakistan, Turkey, Brazil, Australia, and the USA. Summary reports for those countries are posted below.
Leaders of projects in those and other countries are urged to send news of their ongoing activities to rfwalker@bigpond.net.au whenever they have something to tell readers. It will be helpful if reports are as concise as possible, and are worded for posting directly up on to the site. Yes, photographs can be included, but please make sure that they are less than 2 mb’s in size.
The first item is news on the availability of a new edition of the text “Teaching all the Children to Read” and useful booklets that will be of interest, particularly those who are involved with projects
The CLE seminal text, “Teaching All the Children to Read
As reported recently, the seminal CLE book, “Teaching All the Children to Read” (Richard Walker, Saowalak Rattanavich, and John Oller Jr.) has gone out of print, with all rights reverting to the authors. Through the combined efforts of PDG Bob Aitken, Editor of Rotary Down Under and the Rotary Club of Liverpool West, D96690, NSW, an emergency supply of 100 copies was produced locally and that has satisfied the demand until now.
However, it will always be best practice for CLE teachers, others associated with Rotary CLE literacy projects to have a personal copy of the book, if that is practicable. Until now, the authors have not felt it appropriate to recommend wide use of the book for Rotary projects because of its high cost, particularly when they would receive royalties. However, inspired by the initiative of PDG Bob Aitken and the RC of Liverpool West, Rotary District 9630 (home district of Dick Walker) has obtained permission from the authors to produce copies of the book for use in association with Rotary literacy projects, with no author royalties applying. The D9630 Literacy Committee is confident of supplying copies of the book (under the more appropriate title “Towards a Literate World: An introduction to Rotary CLE literacy programs”) at a cost of no more than Aus$10, including mailing; and it intends to seek club sponsorship to make copies available for Rotary CLE literacy projects at an even lower cost – more news later. Enquiries should be directed the D9630 Literacy Chairman Geoff. Bartholomew at <gbartholomew@ozemail.com.au>.
A Portuguese Translation of the Book
At the request of Rotarian Jório Coelho, the authors have also granted approval for the Rotary Club of Ouro Preto, Brazil, to produce Portuguese-language copies of the book. The committee for that project intends to make copies available to Rotary CLE literacy projects in Brazil without charge. The translating has been done by Rotarian Gloria Maria Guine de Mello (formerly Carvalho), professor of translation at the National University of Ouro Preto. Gloria was CLE trained in CLE techniques by Dr. Saowalak in Bangkok and has been active in CLE training in Brazil for 8 years– including the full term of the 3-H CLE literacy project there. She is also active in helping to start up CLE projects in other parts of Brazil, hence the need for a Portuguese version of the book. As Gloria writes, “the idea to translate the book came from the fact that Brazil is such a large country, and even though we have been working in two states, distances are great and it is not easy to make follow-up visits as often as desirable. The book is so clear in every aspect, from methodology to project implementation, that to have a literal translation will be extremely helpful to schools””
CLE PROJECT BOOKLETS
Quite a number of years ago, a “Literacy Teaching in Developing Countries” series of durable, carefully designed and informative booklets was produced by the RI Literacy Task Force to assist the launching and continued development of literacy programs for school children, illiterate adults, and “street children” in developing countries. The booklets were distributed (on behalf of the Task Force) by the D9630 Literacy Committee, which has been continuing to respond to requests for them.
Having recently reviewed the stock of booklets that it still holds and the current usefulness of each, it wishes to advise that it has a stock of the following booklets, all of which would be found of lasting usefulness by people who are contemplating setting up CLE literacy projects or would like to use them in conjunction with teacher training.
For all types of projects:
M5: A Handbook for Coordinators of Rotary CLE projects
G1: General Guidelines for Starting Up Pilot Projects
For projects for school children
M1: A Teachers Manual for CLE Teaching of Beginners
M2: A Teachers’ Manual for the Middle Grades
For projects for Adults
R1: The Context of Adult Literacy: A Framework for Though about Adult Basic Education and Literacy in Developing Countries
G2: Guidelines for Starting up Literacy Programs for Adults in Developing Countries
For projects for Street Children:
R2: Street Children and Literacy Education: An Innovative Approach to the Education of Street Children.
Booklets will be sent, on request, to people who are associated with, or are considering setting up Rotary literacy projects. Send requests to gbartholomew@ozemail.com.au. There will be no charge.
We have reported the “explosion” of CLE projects in the Philippines over past years. The pool of expertise and experience in the country has grown quickly, as the work has spread and projects have matured and extended to Stages 2 and 3 over recent years, so that there are outstandingly capable leaders available to demonstrate CLE methodology, plan courses and conduct teacher training workshops. We have also reported interest and support from Rotarians in Japan who have provided sponsorship for projects and visited to observe a CLE training event there, conducted by PDG Neil Adamson.
It had become evident that it was time for Rotary leaders in the Philippines to consider a large-scale integrated project to spread the CLE methodology to many other clubs in the area, while at the same time, enabling existing projects to extend into phases 2 and 3 rather than proceeding through individual matching grants. After the visit by a team of Rotarians from Japan, an application from clubs in the Philippines for a 3H Grant was submitted to the Rotary Foundation, with overseas sponsorship from districts in Japan. THE BIG NEWS IS THAT THE APPLICATION WAS SUCCESSFUL!
That news has only “stop press” status at this time; while I await a first-hand report. However, we are delighted that this 3-H Grant has been awarded, and very warmly congratulate the projects’ applicant clubs in the Philippines, and the Rotary districts in Japan who were their overseas sponsors.
Stage 3 CLE teacher training
This is a good time to note that, over the years, Rotarian leaders in the Philippines have keep continuous contact with RI Literacy Resource Group Adviser Neil Adamson and PDG Saowalak Rattanavich, who ensured that their project leaders and teachers obtained the training that they needed.
Readers may be interested in the following report on the Stage 3 teacher training workshop conducted by the Rotary Club of Pagadian in 2006, as their pilot project matured. The local technical coordinators (trainers) were trained in a Stage 3 seminar in Thailand, conducted by PDG Saowalak Rattanavich, and the following is a report of the teacher training workshop that those trainers conducted on their return from Bangkok.
(From: Rene Luy , 30 August 2006)
The Rotary Club of Pagadian and
the Department of Education, Pagadian City Schools Division, launched the
Concentrated Language Encounter (CLE) Stage 3 program for the upper school
grades (5 & 6) on August 18 at Hotel Camila, Pagadian City, Philippines.
There were a total of 49 teachers and 3 administrators of the Pathfinders
schools that were trained with the breakdown as follows:
§ Ten (10) grade 3 teachers
§ Ten (10) grade 4 teachers
§ Thirteen (13) grade 5 teachers
§ Fourteen (14) grade 6 teachers
§ Two (2) mobile teachers
§ Three (3) administrators: 2 principals & 1 supervisor
All the technical coordinators who were sent to Thailand participated and facilitated the training. Logistics were provided by the Rotarians led by project chairman PP Edilebrto Yorong. The Project Committee decided (upon the recommendation of the Superintendent) to include Stage 2 (grades 3 & 4) teachers also - because Stage 2 is the foundation for Stage 3 and Stage 2 teachers would also need to use the new information and techniques that were learned by the four technical coordinators in Bangkok.
This training increased the
total number of teachers & administrators trained in various levels & stages
from 167 to 219 in Pagadian City alone.
RI Resource Group Adviser, PDG Neil
Adamson has been Chief Consultant for the Rotary literacy projects in the
Philippines almost since the work began. It was appropriate that he was there to
conduct a training workshop when the news came through that the application for
the Rotary Foundation 3-H Grant had been approved by the Trustees. The following
are extracts from his comments on the workshop.
The Stage 2 training workshop was conducted over a period of five days (16 to 20 April, 2007) and the Stage 3 Workshop was held for three days (23 to 25 April, 2007).
The arrangements made for the training were very well organized ... The venue selected by the Rotarians was excellent. It was air conditioned and the venue was sufficiently large enough to accommodate all those involved in the presentations, demonstrations and practice teaching sessions. In addition, equipment including a computer, LCD projector, overhead projector, screen, public address system, together with a person to assist with the operation of the equipment, was supplied.
The support provided by Rotarians was impressive. Several Rotarians visited the workshops each day and were on hand to provide any assistance when required – this was very much appreciated. There was no doubt that all Rotarians involved from the four clubs cared greatly about the success of the workshops in general and of their CLE Projects in particular… I especially thank PDG Tony Puyat, PP Albert Ang and PP Wilson Tan for their outstanding role in organising the Workshops.
Approximately 99 Principals, Teachers, Department of Education Staff and Project Technical Coordinators attended the workshops. Most were very enthusiastic as they attended both workshops each day and fully participated in all activities. Many worked during the evening preparing materials for their presentations and practice teaching sessions.
Approximately 5,100 children will be immediately assisted in learning to read and write. This number is in addition to those children already involved in Stage 1 (Kindergarten to Year 2).
Since the sudden tragic death of RI Literacy Task Force member, the late PDG Allawa, his Rotary colleagues in Pakistan, his widow Kishwar, and Rotary friends in other countries overseas, notably PP Abdul Wahib Lakhani, (Karachi), RID Noraseth Pathmanand & PDG Saowalak Rattanavich (Thailand),and PDG “Puru” Purushothaman (India) have been working towards the establishment of a CLE literacy program in Pakistan in memory of his outstanding work for Rotary. PP Wahab and a distinguished educator and fellow Rotarian Ms. Husn Ara Ansari went to Bangkok for training by PDG Saowalak, and it was a delight to receive the following report from PP Wahab. With this quality of management, preparation and dedication, I am sure that this project will be an outstanding success.
From Abdul Wahib Lakhani:, September 2006
The CLE project was the one topic on the agenda for the Meeting of my Club (Rotary Club of Karachi Karsaz) where myself and Husn Ara presented our Reports and the following decisions were made.
(a) A volunteer group was formed consisting of 6 members of the Club who will prepare a pilot project for implementation of CLE in two schools to begin with. This volunteer group will be trained by me and Husn Ara will also be a trainer for the next batch.
(b) With the help of the Volunteer Group we shall prepare the books and other material required for the implementation of the programme and for further training of the teachers.
(c) We shall hold a workshop for the schools teachers (government as well as private) after the pilot project’s success, in which we would invite Dr. Saowalak to make a presentation.
I believe the programme will be launched after the month of Ramazan (fasting month) which begins from 6th October.
Overseas sponsors have come forward for many of the MG projects of D2340 that were advertised in 2005-06, but there are clubs in D2340 that are still waiting an overseas sponsor before they can apply to start up teaching centres – and also in D2320 & D2330, I am sure, because this is a national campaign to alleviate adult illiteracy.
If your club/district can help by sponsoring a teaching centre, just email District Literacy Chairman Eser Tuncay at <esertuncay@superonline.com> for D2340 or RI Literacy Resource Group Coordinator, Professor Tuncer Tokol (email: ttokol@uludag.edu.tr)
Don’t wait. Communicate!
Report from Tuncer Tokol, RI Zone 10 Coordinator, RI Literacy Resource Group
On World Literacy Day, 8 September, D2420 gave impetus to CLE projects by preparing a booklet and CD named "step by step CLE Method" and distributing them to all Rotary Clubs in their district.
In the cities of Urfa and Gaziantep D-2430 trained 155 teachers in two teacher training seminars, each of whom set up a new CLE literacy class for illiterate women. In addition, a new Literacy project will be started by D-2430 at the city of Mersin in September 2006, with literacy courses for illiterate soldiers at training centres for recruits. The Ministry of Education provided 100 teachers for the CLE teacher training seminars. D2430 conducted this seminar. As these continue, illiteracy rates and attitudes to literacy will improve in outlying communities as soldiers return to civilian life.
In D2440 many Rotary Clubs are opening two or three literacy courses for illiterate women and also some of the clubs will organize literacy courses for inmates of jails.
I will present a 10-minute Literacy powerpoint at the Istanbul Zone Institute for a discussion group on literacy projects.
Since its beginnings more than a decade ago, the work in Nepal has been ably and enthusiastically led by G.K. Singh. As CLE National Coordinator, he achieved great success in developing, establishing and spreading a range of CLE literacy programs, particularly for women; and in 2006 we were profoundly shocked to receive news of his sudden death.
From Gajendra Bohra 03/12/2006:
We will do our best to continue the CLE
work. At the moment , apart from
MG 21803 , one further women's literacy project which is rather large - about
40 classes to be run in two years - has been approved. Funding is due to
arrive any day . Damauli Club is already running training for teachers of
English in CLE stage 1 in a fairly large number of schools.
We have not heard any more yet from The Rotary Foundation about our Matching Grant application for CLE English and for the proposed Stage 3 Nepali project.
District 9630
The first Rotary CLE Literacy Course in Australia
At a recent meeting convened by District Chairman Russell Harding (D9630), Rotarians and senior staff of the Aboriginal and Islander Independent Community School decided to undertake a pilot CLE literacy program for illiterate parents of its students. An orientation meeting for prospective volunteer tutors will be held on June 6th, preparatory to a training seminar in July, conducted by PDG Neil Adamson. The pilot course will begin soon after the seminar.
CLE literacy techniques were developed in Australia some 30 years ago, working with Aboriginal children. Rotary has developed CLE literacy programs in many parts of the developing world, for the benefit of many different disadvantaged groups of people and in a considerable number of languages. That the Lighthouse CLE literacy strategies are now being applied in Australia for the benefit of Aboriginal and Islander people delights the Rotarians who are involved.
The following message is part of the dialogue in regard to the translation of the CLE book into Portuguese It is good to have regular contact again with members of the 3-H project team in Brazil and to know that work CLE work is extending beyond Minas Gerais, to other provinces.
From Jorio Coelho, Auro Preto, Brazil ,
I'd like to inform you that my district, through my club, has made an agreement with UPOP until 2008 (which can be extended) to implement CLE in any Portuguese-speaking community. Besides, the university gives a certificate to those who take the course, which motivates participants.
Generally, clubs and districts cover our travel expenses and we train around 30 people each time. We make follow up visits 3 or 4 times, visit classrooms and train other groups so that the first ones can go on with the work. I have dedicated most of my time, since my retirement, to the Lighthouse Project. As I always work with Gloria, I can discuss the subject with the teachers.
To our knowledge, this is the first CLE literacy project to be held in the USA. It offers exciting prospects and we hope that Jim will keep us informed so that we can share the news through the web site..
Report on CLE training of Trainers in North America
at Holy Family University
in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
on March 28-31st, 2007
Concentrated Language Encounters Literacy Project
The program done here in Philadelphia in March was a program to teach Teachers in the Concentrated Language Encounter (CLE) methodology of teaching non English speaking adults to read and write in English.
District 7450 sponsored the program; Jim Stanton, President Elect of the Frankford Northeast Philadelphia Club was the Philadelphia contact person and PDG Barry Smith from the Rotary Club of Sandy Springs, District 6900, was the CLE contact person.
A presentation was made to the District 7450 District Conference in Atlantic City, New Jersey, in October of 2006. District Governor Marty Phillips invited PDG Barry Smith and Vivian to make a presentation explaining the methodology used to teach children to read and write using the CLE methods. This presentation led to the Holy Family University expressing an interest in becoming the learning center for CLE in the USA.
A seminar was planned and held on January 25th, 2007 at Holy Family University in Philadelphia to inform interested people of the future of the program. There were 60 people in attendance and they were instructed on what would be presented in the training session planned for March 28th through the 31st. Barry Smith, Jim Stanton and Vivian Smith gave the presentations. Holy Family University reconfirmed their desire to host this training seminar.
Barry Smith, PDG Lloyd Whitfield of the Constantia Rotary Club in D9350 South Africa and PE Jim Stanton of the Frankford Northeast Philadelphia Rotary Club presented the training of trainers to train teachers to teach non English speaking adults to read and write English. There were 16 teacher trainers and 25 non English speaking adult students present for the four day training to learn the CLE methodology. Both Barry and Lloyd had been trained in the CLE teaching methods in Bangkok, Thailand and have trained trainers and teachers in various countries.
Local Rotarians who were trained to be teachers of this method were Felice Silverman from the Chesterbrook Rotary Club, Randall T. Drain from the Philadelphia Club, Jim Stanton from the Frankford Northeast Philadelphia Club, and both Emily Guglielmi and Silvio M. DiPietro from the Feasterville Club.
We broke up into six small group classes. Every class wrote a different group story around a different group activity. All of the non English speaking participants were able to write and read their group short stories at the end of their day of training. It was a very successful experience for everyone attending. A very true general observation of the program was that adult learners are much more motivated to learn than children. They did not want to stop.
The potential for the outcome of this program is immense, people interested in being trained will be able to attend planned training sessions at Holy Family University and spread the Concentrated Language Encounter methodology for teaching of reading and writing to children and adults in many areas of the USA.
Of those who were trained to teach using this method many requested the name and address of an already existing center that offers English as a second language where they would be able to introduce and use this newly acquired method.
The following are three organizations that are anxious to institute the CLE method of learning to read and write in English:
1) The IHM Center for Literacy at the Incarnation of Our Lord School 425 W. Lindley Ave., Philadelphia, PA, 19120
Contact person: Sister Mary Regina, (215) 457-2232,
Sister Mary Regina, ihmesl@verizon.net
2) Delaware County Literacy Council, 2217 Providence Avenue, Chester, PA, 19013
Contact person: Ms Regina Hunter, (215) 876-4800
Regina Hunter, rhunter@delcolit.org
3) Community CARES Adult Community Center at the First Philadelphia Charter School, 4300 Tacony Street, Philadelphia, PA, 19124
Contact person: Mr. Jim Stanton, (267) 249-4027
Jim Stanton, jstanton@firstphiladelphiacharter.org
As of today, April 30, 2007, the initial training of trainers here in the United States has been completed and we have 16 qualified Trainer/tutors there is the need to begin offering programs to non English speaking adult students. This requires organizing, advertising and promoting the program offerings to the many different immigrant populations in and around our area here in Philadelphia. I am now in the process of organizing this effort.
In addition, there are probably another 15 very interested volunteer teachers who were unable to attend the last training but who would like to attend a future training in this CLE method of learning language skills. I am now in the process of organizing this effort.
The following is what I included in a group letter to the newly trained Teachers from the March training:
Randall and Lucy have already signed up at the Literacy Center at the Incarnation of Our Lord School. They will be tutoring students there. I plan to start a tutoring group here at my school. I know that Regina would love to have some volunteers work at the Delaware County Literacy Council. Debbie is planning on working with children here at First Philadelphia Charter School. I have written a short piece for the Rotary District newsletter and included a few pictures that I took. I am attaching the letter and the pictures. I promise to stay in touch.
It’s a funny thing about wonderful experiences in life, you never really have to ask everyone involved if it was as good for them as it was for you, you just know down deep in your gut that it was.
I sincerely hope that I can help you further your experience with this CLE methodology.
The following is an article that appeared in the August-September 2006 issue of the International Reading Association Newsletter. It was written by, Alan Farstrap, the Association’s Executive Director. And supplied by PP Nea Stewart-Dore of D9570, Australia.
IRA AND ROTARY INTERNATIONAL (IRARI)
Rotary International’s motto “Service above self” characterizes the role and mission of Rotary International very clearly and could just as easily apply to the work of the International Reading Association. After many informal conversations, the two organizations signed a Memorandum of Agreement in 2002 to work together to promote literacy through the combined networks of Rotary International clubs and International Reading Association’s councils and affiliates. This agreement was renewed in 2005. The working relationship between IRA and Rotary International (RI) has been guided by a working group of IRA volunteers and staff which has adopted a clever palindrome, IRARI, to signify the nature and importance of the relationship between Rotary and the Association. The group views International Literacy Day, September 8, as a signature collaborative event in 2006 and beyond. IRA councils and affiliates and Rotary International districts and clubs can use this symbolic event to raise awareness of the importance of literacy. The IRARI working group is developing suggestions to guide IRA affiliates and councils as they work with local Rotary clubs and districts on literacy awareness activities and projects that further our shared goal of improving literacy for all people.
A special symposium on the IRARI relationship was held at the IRA convention in Chicago. It was attended by many IRA members who are also Rotarians and resulted in the exchange of many ideas for fruitful cooperation and action. This event was led by Nea Stewart Dore of Australia, assisted by Richard Long and Alan Farstrup, representing IRA staff.
In June 2006 IRA staff participated in the Rotary International annual conference in Copenhagen, Denmark. IRA materials and information were displayed and brochures distributed describing the working relationship between Rotary and the Association. Rotarians expressed great interest in working with IRA at the international, regional, and local levels. We are already receiving numerous inquiries from this networking in Copenhagen. We also saw exhibits about current Rotary projects, including their landmark efforts to eliminate polio worldwide, to provide artificial limbs for those injured by land mines, and to provide clean water in economically developing countries. What we saw in Copenhagen clearly illustrated how Rotarians provide service above self in many unique settings. The IRARI relationship is an example of how IRA members, affiliates and councils can team up with business and public communities around the world.
Rotary’s system of clubs and districts functions independently just like IRA’s affiliates and councils. Each district or club selects certain priority areas in which to focus its efforts and literacy has been declared by Rotary as an important focal point for club and district action. As IRA councils, affiliates, and individual members consider how to team up with Rotary, it is important to recognize this level of independent choice that exists. Rotary clubs want to contribute to clearly defined projects that can have measurable outcomes so they can measure progress. For example, many clubs participate in programs to distribute dictionaries to schools and classrooms. Other clubs choose to provide materials and other contributions to a program called Concentrated Language Encounter (CLE), which packages and distributes simple literacy materials and guides to economically developing countries or communities.
IRA and its IRARI group have established an email contact address for use by IRA members and others interested in pursuing a collaborative relationship with Rotary International. This address is IRARI@reading.org The Rotary International Agreement presents an exciting opportunity for building literacy awareness worldwide and provides an avenue for IRA affiliates and councils to work together with interested Rotary clubs around the world. As an IRA member you are invited to become involved and to encourage your local council or your national affiliate to do the same. IRA welcomes Rotary International’s commitment to make a difference by promoting literacy.
LINKS
Rotary International
To go directly to a two-page up-to-date concise explanation of CLE
work that you can print and distribute, go to the following RI web site address.
(Press CTRL and click on the address to bring up the fact sheet).
www.rotary.org/newsandinfo/downloadcenter/pdfs/serv_opp_cle_fact_sheet.pdf
The International Reading Association
(web-site address http://www.reading.org/)