Paulo Freire, Literacy Through Conscientization.

N

186

Adult Basic Education; Adult Reading Programs; Beginning Reading; Cultural Awareness; Cultural Context; Functional Literacy; International Education; Language Experience Approach; Literacy; Social Action; Social Change

The topic of this review concerning international literacy is the Brazilian educator Paulo Freire and his theories and methods for teaching illiterates to read by teaching them fewer than 20 three syllable words, reflective of their social condition, such as "Shanty-town" and "wages" ("favela" and "salario" in Portuquese), whose syllables can be rearranged to form other words. Discussion of these words as depicted by a situational picture, provides the opportunity for dialog about their role in culture and the awakening of consciousness or conscientization. Articles contained in this review include an introduction by Farideh Mashayekh which contains a discussion of methodology, a list of key words used in the state of Rio, Brazil, and samples of pictorial situations; the articles by Paulo Freire first published in the "Harvard Education Review" entitled "The Adult Literacy Process as Cultrual Action for Freedom"; and reaction papers by William S. Griffeth, Pierre Furter, and John A. Bugbee. Another article by Freire on research methods offers suggestions for applying his ideas to Tanzania. William A. Smith offers an idea for adapting simulation games to "conscientization." A section on reviews of Freire's works and a bibliography are also included. (MKM)

1976

ED114790