Social Concerns Column, 8 July 2012

Become an English Language Tutor for a Fellow Catholic
Next Training Class, July 14, 9am-4pm
For Livermore, California, please call Joanne, 443-1422

If you are reading this blog from somewhere else,
Google for literacy programs that need tutors in your city!

If you can read this, 
you can help someone else who can’t. 

Why are tutors needed? 
  There are adults in our own St. Michael community who struggle to read and speak English at home … at work … to their children.  By becoming a volunteer literacy tutor in the English language, you will make a life enhancing, permanent change in the life of a fellow Catholic.  With strong English skills, an adult has more job opportunities, can speak with the teachers of their children, and even study for the US Citizenship examination.

I only speak English, is that OK?  
A-OK!  The only language you need is English.  If you can read this easily aloud to someone, then you are qualified to tutor an adult.  Members of St. Michael parish who are bilingual have volunteered to join you and your adult student for your first meeting or two to get you started.

I don’t know how to teach.  
No problem!  You will be trained by staff from the Livermore Public Library’s READ Project.  They will be available for consulting.  To prepare for tutoring sessions, you will want to skim through the lesson materials.  But the lessons are all worked out, easy to follow, and have helped hundreds of Livermore residents speak adult-level English.  Your learner will already be part of an ESL class; your job is to help them practice.

Is the program really free?  
Yes, all of the educational materials are provided free of charge by the Livermore Public Library.

What is my time commitment?  
The training class is one day, and then we ask for a 6 month commitment of 2 hours per week.  You and your student can meet in a room at the library at a time that you choose together. 

For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, a stranger and you welcomed me, naked and you clothed me, ill and you cared for me, in prison and you visited me. – Matthew 25