A new study reveals low literacy level in Germany: recent progress and improvement

living with low literacyA study by the University of Hamburg has been recently presented in Berlin, "LEO: Leben mit geringer Literalit" (LEO: living with a low level of literacy), which aims to assess the reading and writing skills of the German-speaking population aged 18-64, in order to quantify the seriousness of the problem of the low level of literacy.

The study certainly brought noteworthy results for the language sector, which is why we talk about it briefly in this article.

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Sensoa launches accessible website about sexuality in 13 languages

Zanzu, website about sexuality in 13 languages

Sensoa, the Flemish expertise Centre for sexual health, was recently awarded a ' Well Done – MSD Health Literacy Award 2016 ' in the category Community for his new website zanzu.be, an accessible website with accessible information on sexual health in thirteen languages, intended for vulnerable migrants (newcomers, asylum seekers and refugees) and for professionals.

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Low-threshold communication gives cheaper and better health care

'Heerlijk Helder in de Zorg' (Wonderfully clear in health care)'Low-threshold communication is the key challenge for healthcare environments of the future.'

Four in ten Belgian adults have an insufficient or limited health literacy. What does that mean? That they are not (properly) able to find or understand (reliable) health care information, and apply it to their own situation. In other words, 40% of adult Belgians are unable to follow a doctor's advice correctly. A low level of health literacy is bad for the patient's health and for the wallets of both the patient and the welfare State, which gets additional costs.

A team from the Thomas More College in Mechelen (Belgium) has developed a toolkit, which allows health-care providers to recognise low health literacy, and gives practical insights into perhaps the most important condition for a good health care: low-threshold communication.

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Literacy in the EU, the Elinet network and the case of Spain

ElinetIn Europe one in five young and almost 55 million have low levels of literacy, which creates a situation of poverty and exclusion for these people.

In 2014 the Elinet project, funded by the European Commission was launched. This project was created as a network of research and permanent monitoring of literacy in Europe and its Member States. The main objective is to ensure the basic right to literacy for all citizens of the European Union.

The Elinet (European Policy Network Literacy) project has analyzed the problems and policies related literacy at local, regional, national and European level, has created awareness campaigns and has taken initiatives to promote and improve reading skills European citizens.

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Plain Language Conference 2015

plain language berlinGhent (Belgium), Giorgio Vassallo - ‘Clearer language, greater efficiency and effectiveness’ is the slogan of this year’s International Plain Language Conference to be held in Dublin, Ireland from 17 to 20 September 2015.

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World Summit of the clear language comes to Belgium

IC Clear - Clarity 2014How do you get there as a government, business or organization that you information is easy to find? That your information is easily understood, even if it is a bit complicated? That your information can be used by everyone? Clear language and clear communication.

Of 12 to november 14, 2014 are Antwerp and Brussels gaststad for "IC Clear - Clarity 2014 ", an international conference on clear language and clear communication. There are 80 speakers from more than 20 countries.

On the summit are also the results of the project IC Clear proposed. IC Clear is a project of six international partners with college Thomas More as project coordinator. The objective of this project is a postgraduate training in clear language and communication.

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Week of literacy from 8 to 14 september

Week of Literacy from 8 to 14 septemberA on the seven adults in Flanders is laaggeletterd. In practice, this means that they have insufficient basis without assistance to in the society. In other words, almost 600,000 people are literate enough to function properly and to participate in society.

To literacy to the attention of the general public, there is this year the fourth edition of the Week of literacy. Which runs from 8 to 14 september. 8 September is also the international day of literacy, an initiative of UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization).

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ICT`ers irritating parliamentary committee of inquiry with jargon and expensive words

Committee of Inquiry Jan Renkema rent in ICT-jargon and expensive language to punctureIn the Dutch Second Chamber is currently considering a commission of inquiry into a number of failed and far too expensive failed ICT projects of the government. The commission soon became irritated by the jargon and the expensive words with which the ICT'ers during the hearings and unpacking in their texts. In normal Dutch translated texts to which to get a legible report and in the autumn to deliver the commission now expert Jan Renkema rent in.

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New web platform makes literacy policy more visible

Platform Literacy launched1 in 7 adults in Flanders is insufficiently literate to participate normally in society. Who is doing something about that?

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New helping hand must reduce accidents by language

Helping Hand Language and security risks5 To 10% of the accidents at work is due to a language problem. To do something about it bring together employers and employees in The Netherlands is now a Helping Hand Language and security risks.

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Thousandth Wablieft-newspaper published

Almost Today appears the 1000ste Wablieft-newspaper30 Years after the first edition appears today the 1000ste Wablieft-newspaper, the newspaper that the news in simple Dutch brings. 1 On the 7 Flemings is literate enough to read a normal newspaper.

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European network for literacy launched

European Literacy Policy Network (Elinet) launchedApproximately 75 million adults in Europe are laaggeletterd. They may read and write in a normal way to operate in the modern society.

That reduces their opportunities on the labor market and increases the risk of poverty and social exclusion. Read: 75 Million Europeans find difficult work, struggle too easily in the poverty and social isolation easily become literate because they are insufficient.

What literacy, kicks also Europe on the spot. A new European network (ELINET) should help combat laaggeletterdheid.

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What does Flanders with the OECD geletterdheidsonderzoek?

Get down to Work Together with the Flemish PIAAC-resultsOn thursday, March 20, 2014 organises the Flemish department of Education and Training in cooperation with the department of Work and Social Economy a conference on the results of the recent OECD geletterdheidsonderzoek: "Skilled enough for the 21st century? Together to get started with the Flemish PIAAC results!"

The OECD (Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development) in 24 countries, including Flanders, the literacy examined in the so-called PIAAC-research: Program for the International Assessment of Adult Competencies. PIAAC peilde to the degree of literacy, gecijferdheid and solving capacity in digital environments in adults. In October 2013 were the main results of this large-scale research published.

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Employee clear language (vacancy)

The House of the Dutch Brussels looking for a Employee clear language.

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Round Table on Functional Illiteracy: the report

Round Table on functional illiteracy: the reportOn 5 December, 2013 the Round Table of functional illiteracy wondered how language professionals can help tackle functional illiteracy and what the language sector could do.

The round table discussion led to 7 concrete actiesuggesties for the linguistic sector.

Click here for the pdf of the report (in Dutch).

 

 

 

Come with your fresh ideas to the Round Table on the problem of low literacy

Round Table on low literacy: 5/12, GhentThe Language Sector is organising thursday, december 5 in Ghent a Round Table on the great social taboo of low literacy.

One in seven adults in Flanders has a low literacy rate. That is almost 600,000 people between 16 and 65 who are not able to function in a normal way in modern society.

"My past consisted of poverty, humiliation, harassment and exclusion. As a child of seven, I was often put in time-out in class. People did not bother to put energy in me. I have never learned to read and write properly. I missed the start and took a large reading and writing fear."

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New books for start-ups adult readers

Wablieft has two beeldboeken for start-ups adult reader.Today in Gent two new beeldboeken of Wablieft proposed to the public: 'Milan is only' and 'Eva is of Ilona Plichart road' of Ruud couple.

Short sentences, a strong story and handsome photos of Jimmy Bounce Out: that is the recipe of this beeldboeken for the beginner adult reader.

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Dutch constitution in simple Dutch: after the book, now the app

The Constitution in simple Dutch: free appThe Dutch communications agency BureauTaal (Beusichem) rewrote a few years ago the Dutch constitution in simple Dutch. Everyone must be able to understand the rules of the constitution, that was the reasoning. Also less skilled workers and Estonian speakers. Now launches BureauTaal the constitution also in an app, which is free to download. So everyone with a smartphone or tablet can always see what is in the constitution.

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Wablieft shares expertise in open training

Wablieft organises open training on clear languageA on the seven adults has difficulty with reading and writing.

The Center for Plain Language Wablieft (Mechelen) has 25 years of experience writing in a language that is accessible for this target group. It was a hope expertise as well as the understanding that Wablieft that expertise not only with its audience but also with other organizations and companies can and want to share. And so they write to Wablieft not only their own work in clear language, but they also rewrite someone else's work in clear language and they learn others even to itself in clear language to write.

As organises Wablieft on Wednesday 15 and 22 may an open training Clearly write for whom his own letters, web scriptwriter and folderteksten wants to rewrite in accessible language.

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Vincent Kompany Footballer wins Wablieft-price 2012

Vincent Kompany Footballer wins Wablieft-price 2012The Wablieft-price 2012 for Clear Language goes to Vincent Kompany. 'The master of Manchester City and the Red snare is a blessing. He keeps his finger on the pulse of the timeliness and has not much phrases for necessary. Tweets are concise excel in brightness and go around the world. With its clear language he also transcends the Belgian regions and it connects people,' says the jury. 'In interviews talk Kompany not in platitudes. He is honest and upfront. In short: Kompany is a rolemodel for clear communication,' as the still.

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Soup with print

Soup with printThis week (from 7 to 14 september) is the worldwide the week of literacy. According to the UNESCO are almost 800 million adults literate enough to be able to operate normally in this modern world. The Centers for Basiseducatie (CBE), which is the increase of the literacy of the Flemish population to core task, informed the friday start at different places free soup with print. In other places there were letterkoekjes distributed. A on the seven Flemings is laaggeletterd.

One in seven adult Flemings is laaggeletterd. That number is already fifteen years unchanged. That is because the literacy of the Vlaming for fifteen years is not measured.
That 'a' is derived from the seven a IF-research (International Adult Literacy Survey) from 1997, in which 2261 Flemings were geïncludeerd. Where are we today? A on the eight? A on the nine? Or one of the six? We do not know. And we do not know whether the Flemish geletterdheidsbeleid thanks in the last few years measurable progress has been made, because there is not measured. Where are we?

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2The Week of literacy (september 2012)

Week of literacyA on the seven Flemings is laaggeletterd. The importance of literacy in the spotlight to organise the thirteen Flemish Centers for Basiseducatie (CBE) from 7 to 14 september the second edition of the Week of literacy. Anyone who wants to distribute posters to hang or postcards, a parcel may receive promotional materials.

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Wablieft and Child and Family launch the `Clearest newspaper about bringing Up`

Wablieft and Child and Family launch the 'Clearest newspaper about bringing Up'The clearest newspaper about bringing up is a newspaper with 12 pages on educating, language and multilingualism. With short texts, testimonies and practical tips, under more about development, thuistaal and schooltaal, language in the reception and read out. The Opvoedingskrant is clearly written in the language of Wablieft: simple Dutch, so that the info is accessible for everyone. 'Because clear language language and upbringing is important!'

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Is understandable language really a trend?

Is understandable language really a trend?'Very many insurers are currently working on their policies to make sense. Top of their wish list is the restoration of consumer confidence and then this is the right way.' That says Wessel Visser, director of BureauTaal in an interview with The Gelderlander.

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In The Netherlands Laaggeletterdheid: status quo and new action plan

In The Netherlands Laaggeletterdheid: status quo and new action planIt is estimated that counts The Netherlands one and a half million people who have problems with reading and writing. 1,1 MILLION people of this group belongs to the potential workforce. In other words, ten percent of the working population illiterate. 70 Percent of the literacy training are indigenous persons, but is relatively more often laaggeletterdheid for immigrants. More women than men are illiteracy. Half of the literacy training works (not). That is clear from the report on the proceeds of last action plan to promote literacy.

In 1994, the first large-scale research to laaggeletterdheid in The Netherlands (International Adult Literacy Survey). There were a half million literacy training counted.

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Word geletterdheidscoach!

Word geletterdheidscoachResearch shows that students from the vocational education (BCC) and to a lesser extent the technical education (TSO) the greatest chance to walk the school laaggeletterd to exit. To improve this situation start the Center for Language and Education (CTO) of the K. U. Leuven in february with a training to geletterdheidscoach, G-coach in the short.

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Wablieft-price for geletterdheidsproject G-force

Wablieft-price for G-forceThe fourteenth Wablieft-price for Clear Language today is distributed to the coachingproject G-force of the Center for Language and Education (CTO) of the K. U. Leuven. The G of G-force for literacy. G-force is a project that ran for two years on ten secondary schools in Flanders in the options and encouraging results obtained in the area of literacy, the students ranked remarkably better with reading and writing.

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Of ezelsbank to schrijfsalon

Of ezelsbank to schrijfsalon'My past consisted of poverty, humiliation, harassment and exclusion. As a child of seven i had to sit in the class on the Ezelsbank. It did not bother to put energy in me. I have never learned to read and write properly. I missed the start and took a large read and schrijfangst to on.
But i am not in the face! There were always people who believe in me remained. That friendships helped me forward.
Finally around my fiftieth i found a custom school where i could learn as an adult. I was understood by confirming their early and i got many opportunities. If i could overcome my fears. I exerted my reading and writing, but i grew up mainly as a man. I got more confidence in myself.
Not only on a personal level, but also as a worker and volunteer i am stronger in my shoes. Now i dare new challenges.
My place is no longer the ezelsbank, but the Schrijfsalon, a creative group in which i, along with others enjoy write and tell. I have my fear of language can produce up to a love for language. That makes me happy.
In this book i have written my life story. There are also interviews with people i encountered in my life and sometimes negative, sometimes positive had an influence on my personal development.
I hope that this book can break the taboo around laaggeletterdheid and that i can encourage the readers, each in their own way, to more attention to this problem.
I wish you much reading.' Jan Vanderhaeghen, ambassador literacy.

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