Adults looking to develop their basic literacy skills have a multitude of options. There are extension (or continuing education) courses through colleges and universities designed specifically for adult learners. There are also endless books, CDs, tapes, and DVDs that help teach adult literacy. So where exactly is the best place to start?

First, adult learners must choose between two competing schools of thought: the "whole language" and "phonics" approaches to reading. Whole language, also known as literature-based reading, asserts that adults learn to read and write by hearing and seeing words in their entirety (or as they would appear in literature). The phonics-based approach posits a "deconstructionist" system of breaking down words to their constituent parts and sounds.

Choosing a Method

Adult learners aren't always best suited to choose their own educational methods. One of the most valuable resources any adult student has is a knowledgeable and experienced counselor who can give diagnostic exams and determine which approach will be most effective. As with children, adults learn in unique ways and cannot be lumped into a single group. An education specialist will work with adults to choose a type of curriculum that fits.

Once adult learners have chosen the best approach to improving their reading and writing, they must devise a way to make that system work within a busy schedule. Nine-to-five jobs force the majority of adult learners to seek out either night-and-weekend classes or web-based resources such as online learning centers. This is the most viable option for students who can only tackle the work in bits and drabs because of other obligations.