The Secret Illiterate Population Of The Uk

By Author: Paul Collins
Total Articles: 13
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Many of us find it extremely difficult to ask for help. Call it foolish pride; a deep love of independence or simple stubbornness but thousands of like-minded adults in the UK would rather struggle in silence than ever admit that they need help. Is asking for assistance a sign that you are a failure? Is it something to be embarrassed about? The answer is clearly no! We all need help from time to time, and part of being a levelheaded grownup is about recognising that nobody, including ourselves, is perfect. After all even superman had his kryptonite.

Too Embarrassed to Ask for Help?

One specific area where many people actively opt to struggle in silence is with reading and writing. Adult illiteracy rates in the UK are relatively high but who do you know that openly admits to being unable to read? The answer will most likely be no one. Often being fluent in the written and spoken word is seen as an innate ability in us all however this really is not the case for many individuals.

When it comes to literacy many hundreds of people actively conceal their language weaknesses to save face with their ...
... peers. Rather than openly opt to improve their skills by enrolling in a general english course many would prefer to hide. For people wanting to take on an english course brighton, London, Liverpool or Leeds the main thing holding them back is fear. We are all terrified about what our family, friends and coworkers think of us. Nobody wants to look a fool, hence it’s easier to pretend that we can read a book, or write an essay, than admit the truth to ourselves, and others. Because many people conceal their inability to read, there is no honest and open communication about illiteracy in society, inducing many people to feel isolated in their struggles. If nobody admits their faults, we all go around believing everyone else is perfect, putting extra pressure on ourselves to conform to what we think is the norm, and berating ourselves when we fall short of this enforced ideal. If everyone was more honest about their insecurities it would soon become clear that many people could benefit from taking on a general english course. Feel like you’re the only one unable to read fluently? The more probable truth is that someone else you know is booking an english course brighton bound as we speak.

Beating the Fear

At the end of the day nobody wants to be seen as being the worst at anything. If you can’t run fast, you don’t join the local sprint team. If you can’t cook, you don’t volunteer to bake your friend’s birthday cake for the party coming up next week. Basically one easy way to avoid asking for help, is to purposely negotiate our way around any tasks where we have to rely on our weaknesses. We dodge our flaws rather than confront them head on as it is the easier option. Avoidance does not make the problem go away however, so book onto that general english course and learn methods on how to read confidently, then the problem disappears as you confront it head on.

Things have to get worst before they can get better. You have to show you are human, with weaknesses and insecurities, before you can improve on these areas in your life.