MASTERY LEARNING AND VILLAGE LITERACY

Simple to complex, known to unknown, concrete to abstract

Literacy training in Papua New Guinea does not work very well. It is often the blind leading the blind. There is no overall strategy to teaching literacy. So this report is written to provide guidelines to teaching literacy.

To start with, literacy can not be separated from language training. Nomatter whether or not the language is in English or Tok Pisin, learners have to become skilled in  reading, writing, listening and speaking supported by the text book.

All learners have no idea of grammar. Therefore the trainer or teacher must avoid all reference to grammar. The best approach is by way of a sequence of Mastery Learning stories with questions. Stories start small and focused on people. There are about 10 sentences supported by 10 questions.

A learner must listen and understand the language, read the language, answer questions based on the book, ask questions based on the book, tell the story and write stories. Early stories need to be in simple sentences. As the sequence continues, the sentences will become complex. This is classical Mastery Learning.

These are 3 of 15 stories to be put on this blogspot in weeks to come. By the time learners go through 30 simple stories, they have the basics of the English language in simple sentences.

These stories will take time for the teacher or trainer to teach spelling and recognition of words for grass roots learners. A teacher or trainer can revise the stories regularly as the literacy skills improve among the learners. All learners in this programme should have basic ability to speak the language and read.


STORY OF JOHN

My name is John. I was born in Lae. My village is on the Markham River. I have two brothers and one sister. My father died when I was 5 years old. I go to school near the village. It is not far from the village. I enjoy school and hope to go to high school. My mother wants me to go to Bumayong High School. It is near Igam Barracks.

What is his name?
Where was he born?
Where is his village?
How many brothers does he have?
How many sisters does he have?
When did his father die?
Where is the school?
Is the school a long way from the village?
Does he like school?
Does he want to go to high school?
What does his mother want?
Where is the high school?

STORY OF NANCY

My name is Nancy. I am from the Eastern Highlands. When I was very young, my family came to Port Moresby. My father is a teacher. My mother works as a nurse. I do not have any brothers. I have two sisters. One is married and lives in Goroka. The other is young and at school. I am in grade 11 at Gerehu High School. I would like to be a teacher.

What is her name?
Where does she come from?
When did her family come to Port Moresby?
What does her father do?
What is her mother's work?
Does Nancy have brothers?
How many sisters does she have?
Is her big sister married?
Where does she live?
What does her young sister do?
What grade is Nancy in?
What school does she go to?
What does she want to be?

STORY OF MR B

His name was Brian. But the people called him Mr B. He came to Papua New Guinea as a young man to work as a chemist. But he set up a shop that became the biggest store in the country. He was married for many years and had a son. But his wife died many years ago.

Mr B was a kind and good man who helped the community in many ways. Mr B became Sir B for services to the community. He supported the Port Moresby General Hospital and the fight against HIV/AIDS. Mr B died last year and the community was very sad. His grave is at the 9 Mile cemetery next to his wife.

What was his name?
What did the people call him?
When did he come to Papua New Guinea?
What was his work?
Did he stay as a chemist?
What did he do?
Was he married?
Did he have children?
What kind of man was Mr B?
How did he help the community?
When did he die?
How did the community feel?
Where is his grave?

Bruce Copeland BA BEdSt
Certificate of Teaching English as a Foreign Language to Adults (Cambridge)
Teacher of English and Tok Pisin
Past supporter of literacy training for the YWCA.