Six Minute English from BBC Learning English.com

Hello this is six minute English from BBC learning English. I'm Phil. And I'm Beth.

Are you a big reader, Phil?

Sure, I enjoy reading, and it's also a great way to pass the time

on my daily commute to work.

But reading isn't just a nice thing to do. It's an essential skill, something

you need for everyday activities, whether that's finding out the news by reading a newspaper,

or buying groceries by reading the labels.

And that's why I was shocked by a recent UN report estimating that around the world over 700 million adults are illiterate which means they can't read or

right. Wow that's a huge number of people excluded from doing basic day-to-day things.

So what can be done to get more adults reading and writing?

In this program we'll be hearing about projects in two very different countries trying to do just that and as usual we'll be learning

some useful new vocabulary as well. But first I have a question for you Phil I mentioned

a recent UN report on the high numbers of people

unable to read and write, but illiteracy is not a new problem. Since 1967, the UN has been highlighting the importance of literacy, being able to

read and write, with a day of celebration called International Literacy Day, but when does it take place?

Is it A the 8th of March, B the 8th of June, or C the 8th of September? I think International Literacy Day is on the 8th of September.

Okay Phil, we'll find out if that's correct at the end of the programme.

The biggest reason people grow up illiterate is not going to school, and that's especially true for people living in the coastal towns of Bangladesh.

Because these towns flood regularly,

families are always on the move,

making it hard for children to get an education.

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