How to Find and Start Free Literacy or Numeracy Courses on NALA.ie

Updated

NALA.ie is the website of the National Adult Literacy Agency, an Irish charity that helps adults with unmet literacy and numeracy needs access learning. If you want to start a free course, go to the Free Courses section or the Learn with NALA entry point on the site. You can browse what is offered without signing in, but to take part in a course you need an account — the site shows a Sign In screen with a "Become a member today" option for people who do not yet have one.

What NALA offers

NALA describes itself as a charity committed to making sure people with unmet literacy and numeracy needs have access to learning opportunities and can fully take part in society. Its site is organised around a few main areas:

Section What it covers
Free Courses The starting point for adults who want to learn
Learn with NALA The learning entry point linked from the main navigation
Tutors Tutor services, resources hub, student workbooks, teaching guidelines, professional development, help with teaching, getting started as a tutor, training events
Services Plain English (tips, editing and training services, Plain English Mark), literacy awareness, health literacy, tutor services, family literacy, integrating literacy in further education, financial literacy, workplace basic education
Research Research and policy, access to public services, education and training policy, health literacy, literacy and employment, NALA's policy submissions, research reports, literacy in Ireland

For a learner, the relevant parts are Free Courses and Learn with NALA. The rest of the site is aimed mainly at tutors, employers, health services and policymakers.

Steps to start a free course

  1. Open nala.ie.
  2. Find Free Courses in the navigation, or follow the Learn with NALA link.
  3. Look through the courses shown and pick the one that matches what you want to work on — reading, writing, or numeracy.
  4. When you try to enter a course, you will reach a Sign In screen. Enter your details there.
  5. If you do not have an account, choose Become a member today and set one up.
  6. Once signed in, you can begin the course.

The expected result at each step is simple: browsing shows you what exists, and signing in is what unlocks the course itself.

Signing in and account problems

The Sign In screen includes a Show password option so you can check what you typed, and a Forgot your password? link. If you use that link, a Forgotten Password screen appears with a Cancel option if you change your mind. If you have no account at all, use Become a member today rather than the password route.

If you would rather talk to someone

NALA lists a Freephone number, 1800 20 20 65, on the site. This is useful if you are not comfortable with online sign-up, if a password reset does not work, or if you are not sure which course fits you. There is also a Search box on the site if you already know what you are looking for.

What to check before you begin

  • Account needed: browsing is open, but courses sit behind the Sign In screen, so plan to create an account.
  • Membership: the site links membership and account creation together through "Become a member today"; the pages provided do not state a price, so do not assume it is free or paid — check on the site.
  • Course level: the navigation does not describe levels or entry requirements, so confirm the right starting point with NALA directly if you are unsure.
  • Other support areas: if your goal is workplace, family, financial or health literacy rather than a general course, those sit under Services instead of Free Courses.