Synergy: Individual literacy requires a collective effort

           When we grow up, our parents or caretakers are the first ones to introduce us to language. When we go to school, our teachers help us develop our language even further. As we get older, each interaction we have contributes to the progression of our literacy skills. The development of individual literacy requires a collective effort because it relies heavily on the interactions we have with others. Communication is the foundation of literacy and can be found in reading, writing, listening, and speaking. In order to communicate, we have to build trust through courage and vulnerability. As someone who has had to learn not one, not two, not three, but four languages, I can confirm it is difficult to open up when you lack confidence in your literacy skills. Some things that have helped me tremendously on each occasion are empathy, encouragement, and open-mindedness of others in the process. A perfect example of how synergy has helped me personally is when my American husband and I visited my family in the Netherlands a few years ago. My husband has extremely limited knowledge of the Dutch language and my family's English skills are basic at best. As you can imagine, both my husband and family were worried about the conversations and impressions they would leave on each other. With my proficiency in both languages, I could have functioned as a translator, which would have complicated my own participation. Thus, instead of solely relying on me, my husband tried to use a lot of nonverbal communication (i.e. gestures and facial expressions) to try and have a conversation with my family members. They, in turn, tried to use their limited English vocabulary to create basic sentences and have a conversation with my husband. Both their efforts were far from perfect, but because each of them put themselves in a vulnerable yet courageous position, the interactions paid off and resulted in an enjoyable experience based on trust for all parties involved. Of course, there were a few occasions in which I had to translate both ways, but overall everyone worked together to communicate to the best of their abilities. 

           A high level of trust combined with a high level of cooperation results in effective communication. This is necessary to create synergy; a middle way in which all individuals involved find the best way together (Covey, 2020). In youth literacy, this means you have to create a safe space for learners to express themselves. There are several ways to do this, but the most important thing is to be respectful of their strengths and challenges. While this blog has suggested several ways to create quality learning opportunities for literacy development, what are some ideas you have?         

Image source: (Wierda, 2016). 

            Language learners need to build self-confidence in order to open up. It is easier to listen and process information than it is to vocalize ideas and express emotions. As educators and family members, we can help them build this courage to be vulnerable through leading by example. We have to be approachable and supportive; we have to add a personal touch to our way of teaching. This also means that we have to combine our explicit instruction with their implicit motivation (Arciuli, 2018). When we fuse our teaching strategies with their learning styles, synergy will result in the most effective literacy development possible. 

          

Image source: (Lathan, n.d.).

Image source: (Lathan, n.d.).

          When we want to reach synergy, it is important to start by identifying your students' learning styles and your own teaching style (Lathan, n.d.). There are many strategies to teach literacy through reading, writing, listening, and speaking, but do not assume your approach is the right one. Inquire with your students what and how they want to learn to get a better insight into their reasons and motivations. Share your own experiences as a learner and make yourself relatable. Ask your students to help create a personalized learning plan and support their ideas based on guidelines and criteria set by you. Work together with your learners to ensure the best approach to building and maintaining their literacy skills.

References

Arciuli, J. (2018). Reading as statistical learning. Language, Speech, and Hearing Services in Schools, 49, 634-643. https://pubs.asha.org/doi/pdf/10.1044/2018_LSHSS-STLT1-17-0135

Covey, S. R. (2020). The 7 habits of highly effective people: Powerful lessons in personal change (30th-anniversary edition). Simon & Schuster.

Media Sources

Lathan, J. (n.d.). An educator's guide to teaching styles & learning styles. University of San Diego. https://onlinedegrees.sandiego.edu/teaching-to-every-students-unique-learning-style/

Wierda, B. (2016, Sep. 8). Embracing 3rd alternatives. Leader in Me. https://www.leaderinme.org/blog/embracing-3rd-alternatives/