The National Adult Literacy Agency (NALA) Adult Literacy Learner Day is for you, if you are aged 18 years or over and are improving your reading, writing, maths or digital skills:

– in an adult literacy centre, or as part of another programme (for example a National Learning Network, Community Training Centre or Youthreach); or

– with NALA’s over the phone Tutoring Service or the Learn with NALA website

What will happen at the NALA Adult Literacy Learner Day?

On the morning on Thursday 7 March, you will meet other learners, hear from adult literacy ambassadors and go to a workshop. Hopefully you will learn something new. There will be a questions and answers session followed by lunch.

This year NALA is having an awards ceremony in the same hotel in the afternoon. This is for people who earned a certificate on the Learn with NALA website in 2023. Those receiving certificates will mainly be from outside the Education and Training Board (ETB) sector, either independent learners or people attending other non-education centres.

You can attend the morning only or are welcome to stay the afternoon if you wish.

Is there a cost to attend?

No, there is no cost to attend. NALA covers the cost for tea, coffee on arrival and a lunch and tea and coffee at lunchtime.

Where is the Clayton Hotel?

The Clayton Hotel is in Cork city centre, near the bus and within walking distance of the train station in Cork. The address is Clayton Hotel, 10 Lapps Quay, Cork city and Eircode: T12 RD6E. Unfortunately NALA cannot cover transport costs for students.

You need to book your place – so NALA can plan the day

– Please book online by filling in the booking form below (registration now closed) or phone Margaret Murray in NALA on 087 969 3696. Do this as soon as you can, and no later than 12 midday on Thursday 29 February.

– On the booking form you let us know what workshop you would like to go to. Please note NALA will fill workshops on a first come first served basis.

– If you are booking a place for someone else and you don’t know which workshop to choose, leave that part of the form blank.

– Let us know if you are going to the morning only or morning and afternoon.

– Once you have booked your place, you just come along on the day.

Find out more about the event below.

 

Agenda:

• 9.30 – 10.00 – Registration, tea and coffee (information stands and free books)
• 10.00 – 10.15 – Welcome and introduction
• 10.15 – 10.45 – Short talks from three adult literacy ambassadors
• 10.45 – 11.00 – Questions and Answers
• 11.10 – 12.40 – Workshop
• 12.45 – 13.00 – How you found the day and anything you want to tell NALA
• 13.00 – 14.00 – Lunch
• 14.00 – 16.30 – Awards Ceremony

 

List of Workshops

You will go to one workshop in the morning. Workshops last one hour and a half. When you register you select one workshop. Registration is on first come first serve basis. If a workshop is already full, it will be closed off. You won’t be able to choose it when you book. Here is the list of workshops:

Your future education – Joan McSweeny, Adult Education and Guidance Service, Cork

Find out about how the guidance service works and what the QQI Framework of Qualifications is and how you could progress.

Technology to make learning easier – Deirdre Madden, Disability Supports, University College Cork (UCC)

Learn how to use free or built in apps to read text aloud from hard copy of text, and from digital or online text. Find out about free or built in apps that you can use to type what they say.

The Self-Care kit – Jasmin Stallard, Outdoor Therapist at New Wave Wild Project

In this workshop we will explore tips for keeping well. We will put together a kit of self-care for the body and the mind.

Creative writing – Bernadette De Courcey, published short story writer in the collections Once around the Sun and a Readable Feast

Find out how you can get started at writing, keep going and develop a practice of writing from an experienced writer.

 

An adult literacy learner only space

NALA Adult Literacy Learner days are for adult literacy learners only. The only exception to this is tutors facilitating a workshop, people doing stands on the day, or when NALA invites non-student speakers to the day.

How NALA helps students to feel comfortable

– When you arrive on the day we will have a member of NALA’s Student Subcommittee (of our Board) at the door to welcome people.

– At the start of the day, we go through ground rules – how we’ll work together, where the workshops are on, where lunch is. No one is put under pressure. Students can get up and walk around, and take a break if you need to.

– If you are a tutor encouraging an adult literacy learner to attend, but you think they need a little extra support, please let Margaret Murray, NALA’s Literacy Student and Development Officer. You can email Margaret at mmurray@nala.ie or text to 087 969 3696. We can organise that a Student Subcommittee member will look out for that person and get them settled.