GCFLearnFree.org’s Reading Program Expands

Raleigh, NC, August 16, 2012 --(PR.com)-- Since its initial launch in April 2010, the GCFLearnFree.org Reading Program has continued to grow, launching educational content for 1,000 commonly used English words in July 2011 and adding an English as a Second Language interface in February 2012. Most recently, a Reading Comprehension activity has been added to the program, providing a valuable adult literacy and ESL tool.

To create the Reading Comprehension activity, short texts (about 200 words) that were originally created for the Text Explorer activity were recycled and combined with questions that allow learners to quickly check what they have read. Like all of the Reading Program tools, this activity is self-paced and allows students to practice reading without negative consequences. This activity is especially beneficial for ESL learners.

The texts provided include short stories, ads, articles, letters, and more; there are 140 texts and each is accompanied by four questions that not only test comprehension but guide learners to critically analyze what they have read. The questions, which are written on the same reading level as the texts, are challenging but are not so difficult to be discouraging. As with all the tools in the Reading program, the Reading Comprehension activity is meant to be entertaining and engaging for adult learners with texts that have been written with an adult frame of reference and sense of humor in mind.

“When we first planned the Reading Program, it was a goal to eventually add a Reading Comprehension activity. This new activity complements the other tools we provide within the Reading Program, and we look forward to creatively re-using the educational content currently offered to create new activities in the future,” states Matt Robinson, GCFLearnFree.org.

To learn more about the new GCFLearnFree.org Reading Comprehension activity, please visit http://www.gcflearnfree.org/reading/readingcomprehension

GCFLearnFree.org Reading Program
Utilizing various educational tools, the GCFLearnFree.org Reading program allows adult native English speakers and English as a Second Language learners to explore the sounds of letters and words, see images and videos of words, hear them used in sentences and paragraphs, and practice matching words and sounds. Everything is self-paced and self-directed so that students can choose to focus on the areas that are most important and relevant to learn.

Since it’s original launch in April 2010, over 400,000 learners from over 200 countries have used the Reading Program. The top countries served are the United States, India, Colombia, Pakistan and Mexico.

To learn more about the GCFLearnFree.org Reading Program, please visit http://www.gcflearnfree.org/reading

GCFLearnFree.org
GCFLearnFree.org® creates and provides quality, innovative online learning opportunities to anyone who wants to improve the technology, literacy and math skills needed to be successful in both work and life. By delivering over 750 different lessons to millions of people in over 200 countries and territories Absolutely Free, GCFLearnFree.org is a worldwide leader in online education.

GCFLearnFree.org is a program of Goodwill Industries of Eastern NC, Inc. All GCFLearnFree.org educational content is designed and produced in the GCF Global Learning® building in Downtown Raleigh, NC.

To learn more about GCFLearnFree.org, please visit http://www.GCFLearnFree.org.