I’m writing this e-mail because my boyfriend is 42 years old and he just told me that he can’t read and I want to help him with his reading very badly. So if you can help us we would like some information that can help him with his reading.

Phonics programs are not typically designed for adults or for 2nd language situations. Please visit our Adult Education section for possible programs, since we update our information often and something may have become available.

However, I have had some remarkable experiences with children from many different countries at my school who have learned to read English by using a phonics program. And we have had great success with adults seeking to improve their literacy. The concept of teaching a language is the same, whether we are old or young. When you want to learn a language, you start with the foundation of letters, what they are and what they say in that language. You then apply meaning to those sounds, blend them into words, and begin to read–continually adding understanding to each word as you read it. So whether teaching small children to read or adults, the process is similar.

The hard part for most adults is having to start back at the beginning, but I think there could be some real benefit there for him. Whether you use a helpful program or work on your own, the place to begin is with the phonetic sounds of the language, what the letters say and how they blend into words.