Identifying Trainees with Literacy Difficulties

Listen for self reporting

Some trainees will tell you, quite clearly, that they have problems with reading, writing, maths, speaking, understanding, information technology etc. Others may only hint at it so you need to listen carefully to what they are saying.

Look for indicators

A trainee’s writing may indicate that they have difficulty with reading and writing. Illegible, erratic handwriting, lack of basic punctuation or sentences that don’t make sense are all signs to watch for.
A trainee’s behaviour may also give you clues. They may give excuses (eg broken or forgotten glasses, pen has run out) or become fidgety or aggressive when asked to read or write something. They may appear not to understand explanations or give vague answers to questions.
In the workplace, these literacy difficulties may result in poor communication within teams and other issues such as not following instructions carefully.