Literacy Volunteers of America open books, futures in Camden
Sally Switzer, of Voorhees, was recently given the name and number of a woman from Venezuela who isn’t proficient in English — all because Switzer filled out a questionnaire at the library.
Switzer is a tutor with Literacy Volunteers of America, Camden County, an affiliate of the Literacy Volunteers of New Jersey. The Camden County Library mailed a flyer to her house about four years ago asking if she had anytime to volunteer. She responded, and the library quickly called her back and asked her to work the front desk at the information counter.
With a full time job in human resources, the former English as a Second Language teacher wanted to do some volunteering in the evenings. Luckily, a six-week course for tutors was just about to get started, and she was soon matched with people looking to become more proficient in English.
The organization’s mission is to improve the basic literacy skill of adults, and comprises 120 volunteer tutors and three staff members. Funded by grants and contributions, the organization spent about 4,500 hours tutoring and 8,900 hours preparing for and traveling to tutoring sessions. Last year, 90 students received basic literacy skills, and 80 students were tutored to learn English as a second language.
Switzer’s first students were the latter — a husband and wife from Uzbekistan who came to America with a church group, followed by a man from Mexico who was trying to learn English to start a landscaping company, and a woman from Bangladesh who was seeking help with citizenship exam.
“It’s very interesting,” Switzer said. “You meet people from all over the world and at varying levels [of English proficiency]. Some people are looking to get a driver’s license, apply for a job, or earn their citizenship. Their motivations are all very different.”
She said jokingly that it’s easier for her to teach English to those who come from Spanish-speaking countries, but added that most people who sign up to be tutored have a friend who speaks English, to translate.
“There’s typically somebody who can act on their behalf, but teaching Spanish helps me,” she said.
Switzer said that unlike those who come in seeking basic literacy training, those seeking English as a second language aren’t embarrassed by asking for help.
“They know that we know that they need to learn the language,” she said. “And just coming from another country shouldn’t be a source of embarrassment.”
Though those who are illiterate and born in America are more embarrassed, it’s short-lived, as Switzer said each year several successful students talk about their story at the organization’s summer conference.
“People will come in, get up in front of all the tutors, and the advisory boards, and tell 100 people their story,” Switzer said. “Some of them are American born who are telling a story of not knowing how to read and the difference it’s made in their life; and some of them are immigrants who get up, and talk to all of us — speaking in English.”
For more information about Literacy Volunteers of America, Camden County, call 856-772-1636.
Switzer is a tutor with Literacy Volunteers of America, Camden County, an affiliate of the Literacy Volunteers of New Jersey. The Camden County Library mailed a flyer to her house about four years ago asking if she had anytime to volunteer. She responded, and the library quickly called her back and asked her to work the front desk at the information counter.
With a full time job in human resources, the former English as a Second Language teacher wanted to do some volunteering in the evenings. Luckily, a six-week course for tutors was just about to get started, and she was soon matched with people looking to become more proficient in English.
The organization’s mission is to improve the basic literacy skill of adults, and comprises 120 volunteer tutors and three staff members. Funded by grants and contributions, the organization spent about 4,500 hours tutoring and 8,900 hours preparing for and traveling to tutoring sessions. Last year, 90 students received basic literacy skills, and 80 students were tutored to learn English as a second language.
Switzer’s first students were the latter — a husband and wife from Uzbekistan who came to America with a church group, followed by a man from Mexico who was trying to learn English to start a landscaping company, and a woman from Bangladesh who was seeking help with citizenship exam.
“It’s very interesting,” Switzer said. “You meet people from all over the world and at varying levels [of English proficiency]. Some people are looking to get a driver’s license, apply for a job, or earn their citizenship. Their motivations are all very different.”
She said jokingly that it’s easier for her to teach English to those who come from Spanish-speaking countries, but added that most people who sign up to be tutored have a friend who speaks English, to translate.
“There’s typically somebody who can act on their behalf, but teaching Spanish helps me,” she said.
Switzer said that unlike those who come in seeking basic literacy training, those seeking English as a second language aren’t embarrassed by asking for help.
“They know that we know that they need to learn the language,” she said. “And just coming from another country shouldn’t be a source of embarrassment.”
Though those who are illiterate and born in America are more embarrassed, it’s short-lived, as Switzer said each year several successful students talk about their story at the organization’s summer conference.
“People will come in, get up in front of all the tutors, and the advisory boards, and tell 100 people their story,” Switzer said. “Some of them are American born who are telling a story of not knowing how to read and the difference it’s made in their life; and some of them are immigrants who get up, and talk to all of us — speaking in English.”
For more information about Literacy Volunteers of America, Camden County, call 856-772-1636.
