Reading Horizons Review: Mia Monahan

“Without education you’re nobody,” says Enanu Abohoy. Enanu is originally from Ethiopia. She had no schooling in her native country. She came into our program as an ESL student and was extremely frustrated that she could not read and write as others did in her ESL class. Gradually she gained enough spoken English to move into our Pre-GED (Literacy) program where she is learning how to read and write. Enanu no longer feels like a "nobody".

Enanu used the online Reading Horizons program and received direct instruction from her tutor. She is very fond of the program. “It helped me a lot to improve my reading and writing, I liked the voice and how it corrected me when I made mistakes,” said Enanu. She also enjoyed the feedback she received upon completing a lesson. “It was never negative,” she said.  Additionally, the program made her a better ‘listener.’ Her favorite aspects of the program were the examples on short and long vowels as well as the clear instructions spoken to her. Enanu gained two grade levels in three 10-week class sessions.  

Her tutor, Mia, says that Enanu became more confident and willing to do more reading and writing on her own. The program allowed Mia to visually see where her student was when she started and where she needed to be. She checked her student’s progress and her time on task on a weekly basis. She also familiarized herself with the lessons so she could supplement her one-on-one instruction.  

“The program recognized the student’s strengths and weaknesses and encouraged her to go back and repeat lessons she didn’t understand before she could move forward,” said Mia.  

The tutor sees Reading Horizons as very beneficial for the students. She also thinks that it provides positive feedback, and most importantly, she says, “the students don’t feel ashamed if they don’t get the right answer, since it’s just them and the program.”  

They both recommend the program to anyone who needs and wants to improve reading and writing. 

“The impact of reading and writing lasts not only a lifetime but for generations,” said Mia Monahan.

Grade Level: Adult Ed