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In Ireland, more than 500,000 people have unmet literacy needs. At Tipperary ETB, we’re here to help.

Our Adult Literacy Service is a confidential and basic adult education service for people with skills ranging from low-level literacy and language skills to those who want to improve their basic skills.

Group of people at book launch

Man readingTipperary ETB’s adult literacy courses are for adults who

  • Have low skills in reading/writing and/or numeracy,
  • Want to improve reading, writing, numeracy and oral skills,
  • Want help with grammar and spelling,
  • Want help with numeracy,
  • Want to improve their skills to help children with homework,
  • Want to learn basic computer skills,
  • Or want to get a qualification at National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ) Levels 1, 2 and 3

What is the National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ)?

The NFQ can help you to make the decision about which level of course is right for you. It can make it easier for you to compare the qualifications you have, and what you are working towards.

This can be very helpful when you are thinking about further learning or going into employment, whether that’s in Ireland and abroad. You can also visit the website www.qqi.ie.

Do you want to find out more about our Adult Literacy courses?

Contact one of our Adult Literacy Organisers for more information in your area.

North Tipperary

Mary Jo Kennedy Deegan
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 067 31845

South Tipperary

Mary Roche Cleary
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 052 6127543

Tipperary ETB’s ESOL classes are available to people who have English language skills below B1 on the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages.

We also work with people who want to upskill in reading, writing, listening and speaking in English, and people who would like to gain accreditation at NFQ Levels 1-4, and CEFR Levels A2, B1.

Did you know?

Tipperary ETB is a certified preparation centre for learners doing Cambridge ESOL exams. Cambridge ESOL exams are recognised by employers around the world, and are important for entry into many third level courses.

Tipperary ETB is one of only two ETBs in Ireland to receive this certification for the exams we run at our Further Education and Training Centre in Archerstown, Thurles (Eircode: E41 YH58).

Tipperary ETB offers Key Exam (A2/B1) preparation in several locations across the county. The Preliminary (B1/B2) exam preparation is offered as a blended model where learners have face to face sessions one week out of every month, and do live online classes for the other three weeks.

What is the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR)?

CEFR is an international standard for understanding your language skills. The six levels within the CEFR are A1, A2, B1, B2, C1 and C2.

For more information about QQI and CEFR, you can talk to your Tutor as well as the staff in the Adult Guidance and Information Service. You can also visit the Council of Europe website: https://bit.ly/tetb-cefr.

Do you want to find out more about our ESOL courses?

Contact one of our Adult Literacy Organisers for more information in your area.

Lavinia English
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 0504 20384

Apprenticeships link

ESOL lessons

Tipperary ETB has lots of online videos available for you if you’re learning English at the moment. Click here to view our video library.

Youth Provision link

Adult Learning lessons

We also have lots of videos for you to help you with your Adult Literacy journey, whether it’s grammar or digital skills. Take a look at our full video library.

Adult Literacy for Life

Adult Literacy for Life (ALL) is a strategy which aims to build an Ireland where every adult has the necessary literacy, numeracy and digital literacy to fully engage in society and realise their potential.

The ALL strategy is overseen by a National Programme Office within SOLAS that works closely with a Cross-Government Implementation Group. Each ETB, including here in Tipperary, has a Regional Literacy Coordinator and a Regional Literacy Coalition that works locally to achieve the vision of the strategy.

ALL recognises that literacy is present in every aspect of our lives. By working across organisations that deal with literacy, it plans to make society more literacy friendly.

For more information on the ALL strategy in Tipperary, please contact:

Ester Mackey
Regional Literacy Coordinator, Tipperary ETB
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 087 0626937

Posters for adult literacy

Testimonials

Take a look at some of the interesting stories of Tipperary ETB learners who have improved their literacy and language skills.

Liam Cleere, a writer from The Commons in south Tipperary, launched his first book ‘My Journey from the Back of the Class with Tipperary ETB’ at an inspiring event at the Horse and Jockey Hotel in Tipperary on Monday, 18 September 2023.

The book beautifully captures how he has grown as a writer and as a learner. It’s an inspiring tale of personal development, self-confidence and self-discovery.

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In June 2024, Helen launched her first book of poetry, From the Dirt Lane Back to the Open Roads, at an event hosted by Tipperary ETB at the Abbey Court Hotel in Nenagh.

Helen, a Traveller woman who spent much of her early life in Cloughjordan and now lives in Nenagh, wrote this collection of poems that offer an insight into the history and culture of Travellers, as well as the pain experienced through assimilation.

Helen has worked with Tipperary ETB’s Adult Literacy team, including Creative Writing tutor Fiona Bolger, to hone her skills over the years. Only 200 copies of the handmade books, designed by Folded Leaf, have been printed and they’ve become a collector’s item.

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Mohamad Al Qadour moved to Ireland from Syria with his family three years ago.

Born with a visual impairment, learning is difficult for Mohamad. However, with the help of the NCBI (National Council for the Blind of Ireland) and Tipperary ETB, he has been able to use a ‘Looky Book’ to help him in the classroom.

You can learn more about his story here, including how the Looky Book provides so many learning solutions in the classroom.

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Adult Literacy Service Annuals

Every year, Tipperary ETB’s Adult Literacy Service publishes an Annual, where the written works of our learners are presented and celebrated. It’s a mixture of poems, short stories and essays, as well as news about events hosted by the Adult Literacy Service in the previous year.

You can view each of our Annuals at the links below: