Literacy Council needs volunteer tutors, workshops start May 15

Staff Report

The Literacy Council has more than 50 adult individuals on a list waiting to be matched with a volunteer tutor and seeks more tutors to serve those waiting.

Anyone seeking to become a volunteer tutor is invited to sign up for The Literacy Council’s free Tutor Workshop series. Teaching an adult to read not only improves that person’s life, but the quality of life of the one helping as well.

The Literacy Council helps adults who want to improve their reading ability; it also helps immigrants who wish to improve their ability to use the English language. These adults often desire to further their education and/or improve their job prospects. They are matched with volunteer tutors who instruct them in reading or English as a Second Language.

To become a tutor, you must meet the following requirements: be older than 18, have a high school diploma, possess good communication skills, have a caring personality, and demonstrate the willingness to make and keep a commitment to the learner.

The next free volunteer tutor workshop series will be on Tuesdays and Thursdays beginning May 15 at The Literacy Council, 982 N. Main St., Rockford. Volunteers will learn techniques for teaching reading and English as a Second Language to adults.

After attendance at an orientation and five three-hour workshop sessions, tutors are matched with a learner for one-on-one instruction for two hours each week for a minimum of one year.

Individuals interested in volunteering their time to share the joy of reading with an adult are asked to contact Stephanie Groves at the Literacy Council at (815) 963-READ. More information and the opportunity to register for the workshop are available at www.theliteracycouncil.org.

Posted May 9, 2012