© 1996 Summer Institute of Linguistics, Inc.

Any literacy program takes place in a defineable social, political, economic context which will constrain and define how literacy work is done. You must identify and understand that context as well as possible before implementing a program. This book has been prepared to help you understand, in broad terms, the "typical" context in which literacy will be done in emerging countries, and give you background information and guidance for setting the stage for literacy.

It will help you understand the effect of illiteracy on the world's population, think about important issues concerning literacy, prepare people for the future literacy program, and develop relationships with others who are interested in promoting literacy. Good preparation will provide a strong foundation for an effective literacy program.

Here are the main sections of this book:

• Preparing for a literacy program
• The big picture in literacy
• Background issues in literacy
• Networking issues

• Modular book: Prepare for a literacy program, by Stephen L. Walter, Mary Morgan, and Leah B. Walter
• In bookshelf: Literacy

This page is an extract from the LinguaLinks Library, Version 4.0, published on CD-ROM by SIL International, 1999. [Ordering information.]

Page content last modified: 15 February 2000

© 1999 SIL International