Lyrics 'stretch reading skills'

[stubacca68]

Millions of adults in England have reading skills too poor to enable them to belt out many favourites from a karaoke autocue, research suggests.
The lyrics of the 10 most popular karaoke songs have been assessed and rated by government literacy experts.

Those tackling Robbie Williams' Angels needed the reading skills required to pass five good GCSEs (Level 2).

Experts from the Get On literacy campaign said 17.8 million adults would not be able to follow the song.

Those adults are estimated not to have not reached Level 2 reading skills.
They would also have trouble following the lyrics of Gloria Gaynor's I will Survive, the Commitments' Mustang Sally and Queen's Don't Stop Me Now, the research says.

These people may also have trouble working out a household budget or comparing products and services.

And the 5.2 million adults thought not to have attained Level 1 reading skills would struggle with Summer Lovin' from the film musical Grease, Elvis Presley's Suspicious Minds and Abba's Dancing Queen.

Those without this level of skills may not be able to check a pay slip or read bus and train timetables accurately.

Skills minister Phil Hope said: "Whilst we might think we know these tunes inside out, it's only on reading the lyrics properly that we realise that some of our favourite numbers are complicated.

"There are many pitfalls involved in public singing, but once you've got the mike in your hand you don't want your reading skills to let you down."

Wannabe

Anyone who is a wannabe Elvis or a secret Olivia Newton-John who sometimes struggle with the words should think about brushing up their skills in the New Year, he says.

"After all, getting help with your reading and writing could help you get on in your job, as well as improve your turn in the spotlight."

The government is offering hundreds of free courses to boost the basic skills of those who have a difficulties with literacy, language and numeracy.

The prime minister launched the Skills for Life Strategy in 2001 to tackle the legacy of adults with poor literacy, language and numeracy skills within England.

The strategy aims to help create a society where adults have the basic skills they need to find and keep work and participate fully in society

Quote from the BBC News website

This is amazing! i didn't think that our nation was this bad at reading! I struggle sometimes but then again that might be the amount of i have drank



WOOHOO 600 posts for me

[baps]

interesting fact stu. i didnt realise there were so many that struggled to read

[TGLucario]

i kno...its weird