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10. Do I need to speak a foreign language to teach ESL?

No, LC subscribes to the English Immersion or Communicative Approach to teaching ESOL.

11. How do students come to you?

Students come to us most frequently by word of mouth, from their friends, family or employers. Sometimes they are referred to us by other human service agencies, Social Services or other Adult Education programs.

12. How do we get matched?

A coordinator will match a trained volunteer first according to which training they completed, next the area in which they live and finally by the schedule of availability. The personalities and preferences of both parties are taken into account during matching.

13. Where do we meet?

We recommend that tutoring teams meet in public places such as libraries, town halls, churches or schools for security and to minimize distractions that happen at home. We can help with suggestions.

14. How long is a typical duration for a match?

On average, an LC student stays in the program for 1 yr and tutors remain with the program for 2 yrs. However, we have tutors who have been with us for much longer.

15. Which workshop should I take, ESOL or Basic Reading?

If you are fairly extroverted, feel at ease being creative, are quick at thinking on your feet and don’t mind having to engage in a practice similar to the game of “Charades”, ESL may be the choice for you. ESL students may be highly educated in their own language, or they may have been under-educated and lack native reading skills as well. Both types can learn.
If you are well-organized and able to provide methodical and focused lesson planning that is multi-sensorial and implemented in small steps, Basic Reading may be a good choice for you. Basic Readers are often native born Americans with some kind of learning difference or “disability”, or who had problems at home that kept them from attending school regularly and contributed to their falling behind.

16. How else can I help the organization if I don’t become a tutor?

Literacy Connections also needs volunteers interested in helping in the office with administrative tasks, helping with events, fund raising or doing outreach to our tutors or students. We are a small organization with a big mission, and we welcome your help!

17. Is there any charge for the training?

There is no charge for the training, but there is a cost of $25.00 for each textbook. There is some reading, but no test. Upon completion of the 12-hour training, volunteers receive a certificate.

THANK YOU for your interest. We look forward to welcoming you to our literacy family. Please remember we are here to answer your questions and to help in any way we can.

Literacy Connections | Volunteer Tutoring Adults & Children, Project READ, Annual Community Spelling Bee, English Learning Centers