The Huntsville Item, Huntsville, TX

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November 15, 2009

Library seeking volunteer tutors

By Matthew Jackson



The Huntsville Public Library is seeking new volunteer tutors for its English as a Second Language and Adult Basic Education programs.

The library will host a free training session for all interested tutors on Jan. 9 at Huntsville City Hall.

According to library literacy coordinator Richard Lane, prospective tutors should apply at the library at least two weeks prior to the training session in order to complete a few brief preliminary activities.

Lane said the need for tutors is increasing as library patrons are continuing to sign up for the programs after hearing about them from program students.

“Lately we’ve had a lot of people come in interested in our classes,” Lane said. “People are telling their friends. It’s word of mouth with other students.

“We’re having some success so we want to prepare some new people.”

Anyone interested in tutoring for either program must first visit the library in order to fill out an application and a release to allow a criminal background check.

Following this, each applicant will go through a brief orientation with Lane.

“The prospective tutor just sits down with me and we got through about a 30-45 minute session to give them a chance to see if it’s really something they want to do,” Lane said.

After the orientation each prospective tutor will be asked to complete a brief, three to six hour series of online courses free of charge.

Anyone without internet access or computer skills can find assistance at the library.

Following the completion of the orientation and the online courses, tutors will attend the training session, which will last approximately six hours.

Following this, each new tutor will have an opportunity to sit on tutoring sessions with more experienced tutors. They will then be assigned students.

Tutors for ESL courses will be expected to handle small groups of two to four students, while tutors for Adult Basic Education will conduct one on one sessions.

Each tutor is expected to contribute at least two hours per week to the program.

Lane said no particular level of education is necessary to participate in the program, but all applicants must be at least 18 years of age.

“We have tutors with advanced graduate degrees,” Lane said, “but we also have people with high school diplomas who do wonderful work.

“We’re not trying to make people into professional educators,” she added. “What our focus is it to help the tutor build a relationship with the students and work together toward their goals.”

For more information, contact Lane at the library at (936) 291-5472.

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