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Literacy Questions and Answers on Volunteering
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The Literacy Centers of the County of Los Angeles Public
Library offer a variety of FREE literacy services for adults and families.
VOLUNTEER to help someone improve his/her reading, writing and spelling
skills or teach English as a Second Language (ESL) classes.
WHAT ARE THE QUALIFICATIONS FOR BEING A VOLUNTEER?
You don't need a college degree or teaching experience
to help someone learn to read. All you need is commitment and time. Tutors
must be 18 years or older. Our Literacy Program staff will provide you with
the training, materials and other types of support you need.
Volunteer tutors attend two six-hour training
workshops prior to being assigned an adult learner. Tutors are
required to:
- Commit at least six months to working with an adult learner.
- Meet with learner a minimum of two hours per week.
- Prepare lessons creatively.
- Attend in-service training and tutor support meetings.
- Regularly submit program reports and volunteer hours to literacy
staff.
- Communicate successes and concerns to Literacy Center staff.
Tutoring is generally done in the Literacy Center and
the hours are arranged for the convenience of both tutor and adult learner.
WHO ARE THE STUDENTS?
Literacy students come from all walks of life, from the
professional to the homemaker to the 16-year-old dropout. All of these
people have the desire to learn to read and the courage to find help.
WHAT GOOD DOES IT DO?
Thousands of others have acquired the skills they need
to get and keep good jobs, support their families and share the joy that
reading brings.
WHAT IS ESL?
We provide English as a Second
Language (ESL) instruction for non-English speaking adults. You don't
need to speak someone's language to teach him/her to speak, read or write
English. Programs offering ESL instruction also provide training for
volunteers in ESL tutoring.
WHERE CAN I GET MORE INFORMATION?
Call the Literacy Services Manager at (562) 940-8511. The Literacy staff will be happy to tell you how you can help!
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