Supporters of low literate adults

According to the Programme for the International Assessment of Adult Competencies (PIAAC), a large proportion of adults in Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) countries have low literacy proficiency levels. There exist widespread stereotypes about adults who have difficulties with reading and writing, stereotypes which portray them as a socially isolated group with severe problems getting by in everyday situations that require reading and writing. Yet many people know adults who have difficulties with reading and writing (e.g. from their families, workplaces, or circles of friends or acquaintances) and support them in dealing with literacy-related tasks. To offer an additional perspective, this paper focuses on these literacy supporters. It draws on on qualitative and quantitative data gathered in 2013 and 2014 in Germany. The findings indicate that there are various types of support, from taking over tasks in informal learning settings or participation in reading and writing classes. This article discusses the results of this study in the wider context of literacy mediation, which is well established in international research but far less prominent in Germany.