article by a Literacy Tutor from Rutherglen

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Success

For the third consecutive year, learners from the Rutherglen Huts adult lit/num group participated in a ‘Christmas Cabaret’ programme for Rutherglen Senior Citizens at their Christmas Lunch.  Over the past three years it is apparent that their confidence and skills have developed both individually, and as a group.  The programme, discussed and compiled by the learners themselves, included items which they requested, and required a lot of hard work and practice. Each learner was faced with at least one new challenge. Each wrote out his own invitations to friends/carers/ family and Social Work staff and Mark Docherty sent an invitation by email to Community Arts Co-ordinator Keith Donnelly, whom they had met at East Kilbride Arts Centre when they went to view their own Podcast, in which each learner was interviewed about what they had learned re. Rutherglen in Australia after participating in the Rutherglen ‘CREATE’ project. 

Mark Docherty, John Stirling and Graham Bell agreed to deliver a welcome/introductory speech.  This required considerable courage in order to overcome nervousness, shyness and speech impediments. They excelled.

This three part speech, read out in relay fashion, had been composed in class as a poem, to summarise the work which had been achieved by the learners throughout the year.  It developed from a literary exercise whereby learners explored word patterns, rhythm and rhyme, and chose appropriate words to suit the context. 

The learners took the whole project very seriously and were very keen to learn to speak in public and to learn the words of songs and carols, chosen by themselves. 

Aziz Uddin, the newest member of the class, who had never taken part in such a venture before, added authenticity to the ‘Calypso Carol’ by playing the maracas while others demonstrated their percussion skills with tambourines.

Learner John Murray made a special request when asked what he would like to contribute to the performance.  He had never danced before and he wanted to learn.  Thus in the weeks prior to the performance, John listened carefully to Scottish music, to which he learned the steps of the St.Bernard’s Waltz.  By counting out the steps in time to the music, John grew confident enough to present his own mini version of the popular Saturday Night television show, ‘Strictly Come Dancing’ – aptly named for this occasion, ‘Strictly Come Prancing’.  For this important event in John’s calendar, he went to Mark’s and Spencer’s, quite independently, and purchased a bow tie for himself to wear for his part in the programme.  He was very proud of his achievements and was able to lead his social worker partner on the dance floor.  His enthusiasm was infectious and several other couples joined them.  The rest of the class acted as ‘judges’ and held up their scores, the result being that John and his partner were awarded gold medals; chocolate ones in this case.

Each learner also wrote down their special ‘Christmas thoughts’ about what Christmas meant to them on large red coloured gift tags.  They read them out individually to the audience and hung their thoughts –illuminated by candles - on the Christmas tree.  

John Stirling suggested a prize be given to the ‘best community singer’ in the audience and took responsibility for judging and presenting the prize. 

Graham Bell gave the vote of thanks and also presented the group’s voluntary worker with a ‘gold medal’ for all her support.

Many literacy and numeracy exercises were incorporated into the construction and delivery of the programme and, once again, it offered an excellent opportunity for the learners to participate in, and contribute to a local community event.

Webmaster replies

This sounds like a great success story and one that  could be put forward for the Adult Learners' Awards.

Contact us and tell us what you think of the learners' successes.