Right at Home in the Classroom
September, 2016
A life skills training programme based in Whanganui is having a significant impact on the adult students that it services.
Mature learners were celebrated around the world earlier this month with Adult Learners Week (5th – 11th Sept). However for tertiary educator Diane Glennie, adult learners are her top priority every day. Diane tutors the Tangata Toa programme, delivered by tertiary education provider Training For You. Tangata Toa is an intensive numeracy and literacy programme designed particularly to increase confidence and self-esteem, especially for individuals that have been out of the workplace for some time, or have previously experienced barriers to their learning.
Tangata Toa translated means “Strengthening People”. The programme aims to help men and women discover where they want to go in their life and career, ideally transitioning towards further study. Students on the 13-week programme work through five modules including computer proficiency and communication skills. All of the learnings are designed to help build confidence to take on other challenges. Exposing the learners to opportunities, identifying goals and possible career paths is an important aspect of the programme. Even gaining skills and knowledge to support children with school work is a real bonus for some.
Diane Glennie has been teaching at Training For You for 13 years. She is passionate about supporting people to achieve more than they thought possible. “In my class, each individual is honoured. They are encouraged to know that they can aspire to be anything they want to be. My philosophy is, if a student is unable to learn, I must assume that I haven’t yet found the right way to teach them.”
Diane is highly regarded by current and former students who accomplish real results while on the programme. In 2014, she was given a Highly Commended award for the ITENZ (Independent Tertiary Education NZ) Tutor of the Year. “Adult learners work hard to change their lives and my role in this is to mentor, guide and support them on their journey. I teach literacy and numeracy, computer skills and communication skills in an active, positive learning environment. I draw on the skills I have developed over the years from studying human nature, and the very premise of how people learn.”
For Adult Learners Week, the Tangata Toa class enjoyed a shared lunch - in line with the Healthy Living module, but also exploring the literacy and numeracy aspects that go into preparing a meal. The event also served as a celebration for several students that had completed the programme and were heading on to other pursuits, and for some new students that were joining the cohort.
Husband and wife Roslyn and Adrian Baker have recently commenced the Tangata Toa programme. After only a week on campus, they’ve been impressed by the supportive environment in Diane’s classroom. Says Roslyn, “It’s like being part of a family.” It is indeed a family affair, with the class recently having four members of the same family studying together. Alongside Adrian and Roslyn, the class is also host to another couple, plus a mother-and-daughter duo.
Adrian and Roslyn have joined Tangata Toa together to pick up skills that they can utilise in several areas of their lives. Outside of Training For You, they both lead a Life Begins programme through their church. This is an art-orientated project for people with learning disabilities, with a wide range of ages - the youngest participant is around seven years of age and the eldest around 65. Roslyn particularly is keen to upskill her digital presentation skills for use in this area and beyond.
Following Training For You, Adrian is hoping to progress his education further with a Level 2 horticulture course at Wai Ora Christian Community Trust.
Diane Glennie says the essence of her teaching is in building the self-worth of the learner, “I believe that it’s all about self-esteem. If we grow that, then we can do anything, achieve anything, and indeed be anything we want to be.”
