What will I learn in a Literacy degree or training program?
A degree or training program in literacy is aimed at preparing you to teach either adult or remedial literacy classes. That is, instead of teaching young children to read or write, to help those of older age groups who, for whatever reason, were not properly taught or unable to learn the first time around. The aim is the same: of course, you're trying to teach people to read and write, but the techniques are quite different. After all, you wouldn't try to teach a 25 year old using the same “the cat sat on the mat” books that you might use with a four year old. That's what degrees and training programs in literacy are aiming to do: train you in these different techniques.
What will a Literacy degree or training program qualify me to do?
With the the rising requirements for a skilled workforce, with the rise in immigration, there's a large need for people to do this remedial and adult literacy teaching: nearly 100,000 people do it already. They pay is fairly good, around $19 an hour on average. But the job has other benefits as well: one of course is the sheer joy of teaching people who want to learn. Adults are in these classes because they want to be, not because they were forced onto the school bus. It's also very simple to work part-time, either only part-time or in addition to another teaching job: if you want a little extra income or time with the family.
