A04

背景	Background
在英國每五位就有多達一位的成年人缺乏識字力的機能，這代表的意義是在這些島上可能有七百萬成年人不會使用電話公司的黃頁簿來尋找一位水電工。	As many as one in five adults in the UK lacks functional literacy skills, this could mean that seven million adults in these islands cannot use Yellow Pages to find a plumber.
我們監獄裡面65%的犯人只具備少於八年的閱讀年齡，而有十分之一是文盲。	65% of our prison population have a reading age of under eight years, and a tenth are illiterate.
多達50%的犯人在釋放之後不能閱讀或書寫一份足以申請工作的信函，並且多達85%的年輕罪犯者是機能上的文盲。看起來那些缺乏識字能力的人是平均低收入者的兩倍，更是平均夫妻皆失業者的四倍。	Up to 50% of prisoners on release cannot read or write well enough to hold down a job, and up to 85% of young offenders are functionally illiterate. It seems that people lacking literacy skills are twice as likely as average to be on a low wage, and four times as likely, on average, to be in a relationship where neither partner works.
所以文盲的惡性循環是可能持續下去，尤其是那些無法學習閱讀與寫字的女性，因為她們的小孩將會有相同的問題。	Hence the cycle of illiteracy is likely to continue, especially where women fail to learn to read and write, because their children will likely have similar problems.
在這些島上文盲產生的影響經常是與失業、犯罪的上升、和反社會行為等看在一起。當許多人不能填寫申請表格或閱讀機械和商標的說明書時，以及學校不斷增加過量的對象等，這並不是一件驚訝的事情。扶輪社員正好可以來幫助我們的市民克服這些困難，懇請幫忙。	The impact of illiteracy is seen frequently in these islands in unemployment, increased crime and anti-social behavior. This is not surprising when many people cannot complete application forms, or read instructions on machines or labels, and schools are increasingly overloaded with targets. Rotarians are well placed to help our citizens to overcome these difficulties. Please help.

扶輪社員如何幫助?	How could Rotarians help?
設定你的網路首頁為 www.theliteracysite.com	Set your Internet home page to www.theliteracysite.com
每天你可以敲下按鍵來免費捐贈書籍，在2004年共有155,000本書是這樣認捐出來的。	Every day you can click on the button to donate books free. 155,000 books were donated this way in 2004.
成人與小孩都需要幫助，具有識字問題的成人可能會特別困難的被指認出來，因為他們用許多方式來掩飾他們的缺陷。然而還是有一些人在尋求幫助，並且那些在監獄裡缺乏識字技巧的人，成為一群被捉到的聽眾。	Help is needed for both adults and children. Adults with literacy problems can be particularly difficult to identify because they develop many ways to disguise their disabilities. Some however do seek help, and in prison those lacking literacy skills provide a ‘captive’ audience.
至於兒童，透過政府提倡的識字與計算的學習時段，許多的學校都已經完成了。然而許多學校，特別是失學地區，當有經費來源與預算上的困難時，自然是刪減書本，或選擇放棄增添學校圖書館的服務(每人可省下2,000英磅)。同樣驚人的是，非常資優的兒童在閱讀練習時可能被忽略了，因為有限的教學資源經常被集中在成長比較緩慢的兒童上。	For children, much has been done in schools by government promotions of the Literacy Hour and the Numeracy Hour. However many schools, especially in deprived areas, have difficulties managing their budgets and often economies are found by cutting down on books, or opting out of joining the school’s library service (saving £2,000 pa). Surprisingly too, more gifted children can be overlooked in reading practice as limited teaching resources frequently need to be concentrated on efforts with the less able children.

扶輪社如何著手開始?	How could clubs get started?
連絡地方學校的代表以建立他們的需求	Contact heads of local schools to establish their needs
提供每小時或上午/下午的協助	Offer hourly or morning/afternoon assistance
聆聽讀書的人(通常比較資質的兒童較少得到的注意)	Listen to readers (often the more able children get less attention)
幫助老師陪同學生到學校的圖書館	Assist teachers by accompanying children to the school library
擴展學校的圖書館(為失學區域提供補助或購買書籍 – 有些無足夠的經費增加圖書館的服務)	Expand the school library (subsidise/purchase books in deprived areas – some cannot afford to join library services)
建立各學校，彼此學童之間的電子郵件交換的連絡資料，有可能是與海外學童，也許可與其他扶輪社連繫。	Set up contacts between schools for e-mail exchange between pupils, possibly abroad and perhaps using links with other Rotary clubs
贊助拼字/閱讀/寫作的競賽，用所有方式來幫助提升識字與教育標準。	Sponsor spelling/reading/essay competitions, all ways of helping to raise literacy and education standards.
能夠在 www.goodgifts.org 的目錄上提供良好禮物或來電 020 7794 8000為每位學童提供15元英磅包含三本成套的”識字書”，或是在婦女收容所提供95元英磅來幫助學童的圖書館。	The Good Gifts catalogue at www.goodgifts.org or Tel: 020 7794 8000 can supply Lit Kits at £15.00 each (containing 3 books) per child, or £95.00 to help stock children’s libraries at women’s refuges.

建議/聯繫	Suggestions/contacts
*幫助學童*	*Helping children:*
認養一間學校: 扶輪社能夠與他們地方的學校聯繫，看看他們有什麼需要，如義務協助閱讀、幫助學校成員 (圖書館工作等) 、捐贈圖書等的可能性	Adopt-A-School: clubs could contact their local schools to see what they need, possibly volunteer assistance with reading, helping staff (library work, etc.), supplying books.
閱讀是基本要件，英國透過鼓勵閱讀，幫助學童與年青人了解他們的潛能，。	Reading Is Fundamental, UK helps children and young people to realise their potential by motivating them to read.
檢閱www.literacytrust.org.uk的網站來取得構想	Review their web site for ideas at www.literacytrust.org.uk

義務幫助閱讀	Volunteer Reading Help:
把成人、兒童、與書籍結合起來，在小學裏他們需要更多的義工來幫助 (學期間每週三小時) 並且需要資金贊助來訓練義工。	www.vrh.org.uk Tel: 020 7729 4087 (June Nichols) Brings together adults, children and books. They need more volunteers to help in primary schools (3 hours a week term-time) and funding to finance volunteer training.
備註: 所有學校內為年青人工作的義工將需準備證件，這包括一份來自警政署犯罪資料中心的完整証明書，並且一份獨立的推薦函。申請書可以由學校秘書處或是 *www.disclosure.gov.uk 網站取得。*	NB: all volunteers in schools will need to arrange certification to work with youngsters. This involves completion of a form from the Criminal Records Bureau and an independent reference. Forms are obtainable from the school secretary or www.disclosure.gov.uk

幫助成人	*Helping adults:*
扶輪社員需要注意到，成人識字教育的義工，可能被要求需要接受訓練。	Rotarians should be aware that adult literacy volunteers may be required to undertake training.
以下的資訊是來自非常有幫助的國家識字能力信託網站www.literacytrust.org.uk上擷取下來；	The following has been extracted from the very useful National Literacy Trust website: www.literacytrust.org.uk

義工涵蓋了哪些工作?	What does volunteering involve?
安排成人識字能力的義務工作因地區而有不同，一般而言，義工會被面試來評估他們的適當性，並且可能需要完成一套課程(通常是要八週每週兩小時)。由於政府的推薦，已經開發出新的義工證照；雖然現存的條件仍然有效。大多數的大專學院需要義工完成，成人學習的第二階認證，雖然有些可能是提供他們自己的訓練。有一些大專學院沒有使用義工，取而代之的是注重在徵求完全符合規定的助教，需要具備第四階的認證來帶領教學。假使適當，義工可能會被安排在一個團體內來支援一位有薪水的助教，或可能是與一位學生做一對一為主的工作。承諾是很重要的: 持續最少一年每週兩小時的要求。	Arrangements for adult literacy volunteering vary from area to area. Generally volunteers are interviewed to assess their suitability and may need to complete a course (usually two hours a week for eight weeks). New qualifications for volunteers have been developed as a result of government recommendations, although existing ones are still valid. Most colleges require volunteers to complete the City and Guilds Level 2 Certificate in Adult Learner Support, although some may offer their own training. Some colleges do not use volunteers, preferring to focus instead on recruiting fully qualified tutors with the Level 4 Certificate required to lead a class. If suitable, volunteers may either be placed in a group to support a paid tutor or may work with a student on a one-to-one basis. Commitment is essential: two hours a week for at least a year is expected.

我如何能夠志願服務?	How do I volunteer?
記得所有安排是根據地方有所差異，第一步是要聯繫你地方的成人基礎教育協調人，這是根據位於一所大專學院內或是一間基本技術中心。如需聯繫資訊，薩姆布魯克(Sam Brookes)的電子郵件是 sam.brookes@literacytrust.org.uk 或是電話 020 7828 2435。	Remember that arrangements vary from area to area. The first step is to contact your local adult basic education coordinator, based either at a college or a basic skills unit. For contact details email Sam Brookes at sam.brookes@literacytrust.org.uk or call 020 7828 2435.
另外可聯繫基本技能組織(Basic Skills Agency): www.basic-skills.co.uk ，這是一個由國家發展的組織,是為英國與威爾士的成人提供識字、計算、與相關基本技能的組織。他們的網址有相當豐富的資訊可提供扶輪社團參與的機會。	Alternatively contact the Basic Skills Agency: www.basic-skills.co.uk This is a national development agency for adult literacy, numeracy and related basic skills in England and Wales. Their web-site provides a wealth of information on opportunities for clubs to get involved. 020 7405 4017.
地區圖書館與地區委員會應該能夠幫助找到你們地區內，許多幫助成人閱讀與寫作能力的組織。	Local libraries and local councils should be able to help locate several organisations in your area which seek to help adults to build their reading and writing skills.

需要更多的資訊請與國際扶輪2006-07識字教育資源小組總協調人前總監大衛聯繫地址:Old School House, Alfrick Pound, WORCESTER, WR6 5EZ Email: dwfowler@waitrose.com 電話: (B & P) 01886 884690, (F) 01886 884005	Contact for further information: PDG David Fowler, General Coordinator 2006-07 RI Literacy Resource Group, Old School House, Alfrick Pound, WORCESTER, WR6 5EZ Email: dwfowler@waitrose.com Telephone: (B & P) 01886 884690, (F) 01886 884005