Improving Spelling

[SBell2406]

I'm hoping someone can offer me some advice. My dad has asked me for some help improving his spelling (he was never really taught much at school, and he finds it very debilitating as he can't write e-mails/fill in forms etc as his spelling is so poor.

He has been to a class at our local college designed to help adults improve their reading and writing but (and in no way is this a racist comment whatsoever before I start getting jibes!) it was mostly filled with foreigners who wanted to learn to speak English.

He does read a lot of books, so it's not his reading that's really the problem, its his spelling/writing/grammar. He has asked me to try and help him improve it and I don't have a CLUE where to start!! We don't have the money to pay for any kind of private tuition, and whilst I did an english degree at university, I have no teaching experience (especially not in something as broad as this!) Any help/teaching advice/book recommendations would be fantastic! Sam

[saxy_jag]

My late father got a lot of help from 'On the Move' in the 1970s. Some years later he was asked to read a lesson at an important church service and it meant everything to him - I think it was a higher accolade for him than getting his war medals.

'On the Move' isn't around anymore, but the there's now BBC's 'RaW' (Reading and Writing) campaign, which has similar aims. Why not visit their website and see if there are any resources your father could use?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/raw/

[antiguru]

Top marks to your Dad for asking for your help! I think the trick is probably to find a fun way of learning which isn�t patronising. If it�s his writing that�s weak, then focus on exercise that make him write things down for fun.

I have two suggestions. You could set him a subject to write 100 words a day on (sentences, perhaps give him the first few words and he finishes it - like "Bob was bored of his mistress") and then go through it with him and spell check or secondly you could use this computer. Teach him to use spell check and then he can see his own mistakes and learn as he goes. We all know spell check is not perfect but it�s a good start.

Hope this helps and good luck to you both.

AG

[oldwoman]

Buy him a spellchecker, about �15 from Argos. Best thing since sliced bread.

[Harry Nuttal]

Hi Sam, I do occasional written English courses for people like your dad who left school without getting much help with written English including the pesky apostrophe, spelling, grammar and style. Everyone seems to enjoy them. Especially the mid-management types who now have to write e-mails and reports and memos - and struggle. I'm a semi-retired journalist, by the way. I'd be happy to post off my writing course which your dad could have a look at but I don't know how I could do that. Is there a forwarding service on offer at the Answerbank, I wonder? Perhaps you could enquire.