Nearly one-quarter of American adults have low-level literacy skills. Existing research provides a great deal of quantitative information about skill levels and attainment, but little information exists that highlights the contextualized experiences of adult learners. In this phenomenological study, we explored individual adult learners’ experiences in a community-based literacy program. A purposive sample of eight adult learners participated in semi-structured interviews. The study shows that the tutors’ caring and understanding attitude towards the learners, friendship relationships between the tutors and learners, and the tutors’ use of individualized interventions for their learners were vital in shaping their positive learning experience. The study also highlights how the learners’ motivation and support system played in helping them persist in the program. The literacy program transformed their lives and meant “a chance” for making a change.

中文翻译：

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通过扫盲计划改变生活：探索成人学习者的经历

近四分之一的美国成年人识字能力较低。现有研究提供了大量关于技能水平和成就的定量信息，但很少有信息能够突出成人学习者的情境化体验。在这项现象学研究中，我们探讨了个人成人学习者在社区扫盲计划中的经历。八名成年学习者的有目的的样本参加了半结构化访谈。研究表明，导师对学习者的关心和理解态度、导师和学习者之间的友谊关系以及导师对学习者的个性化干预对塑造他们积极的学习体验至关重要。该研究还强调了学习者的动机和支持系统如何帮助他们坚持项目。扫盲计划改变了他们的生活，意味着做出改变的“机会”。