Encourage your friend or family member who can’t read to make the effort to learn. Sometimes having support from someone else will help them to take the first step.
Offer different options for learning to read. There are classes available during the daytime and in the evenings as well as programs available through the mail or online.
Be available to help with homework or practice. Having someone to work with will help an adult succeed in learning to read.
Do your best not to judge the person who is learning to read if she doesn’t work as hard as you think she should or if she learns at a slower pace. It takes a lot for an adult to commit to a literacy program, and the learner should be encouraged, not scolded.
Search for reading materials that will interest the reader. Everyone enjoys reading more if the subject is something they care about. Your adult reader will appreciate being offered material that is interesting to him.
Praise the adult reader for progress made and for the effort she puts in. Help the reader to see that she is improving and remind her why she made the commitment in the first place.
Give it time. Learning to read takes time for everyone, but especially for an adult. Be patient with the adult you are trying to help and let him learn at his own pace. Remember that any improvement in skill, even if it is a small improvement, will benefit him in many areas of life.