Read West Literacy Rio Rancho NM Volunteers

A ReadWest Hero

Cathy Varney has been a ReadWest tutor for more than eleven years. She was a ReadWest Tutor of the Year in 2005 and the New Mexico Coalition for Literacy Trainer of the Year 2007.

Cathy has trained over 600 ESL Volunteer Tutors in the state of New Mexico. In 2010 she was named a ReadWest Hero for her countless hours of volunteer service and fund raising efforts.

She is the author of “Outside the Textbook,” a handbook for ESL tutors and teachers. All profits have been donated to literacy in New Mexico.

ReadWest is proud to have her as a part of its elite team of volunteers.

TUTOR TESTIMONIALS
"My student is always thanking me for giving up my free time. He tells me how much this has changed his life. He doesn’t realize that it has changed mine as well. There is nothing more rewarding than witnessing a person’s life begin to open up as they acquire literacy skills and then apply them in their daily lives. He can read to his daughter now."
- Lisa Stewart , ReadWest BL/ESL Tutor since 2009.

"Being a volunteer tutor is a blessing and the rewards are the greatest! Her smile as she tries putting together a sentence in English is my reward!"
-Dee Bovenzi, ReadWest ESL Tutor since 2008.

"ReadWest students are highly motivated adult learners. This makes our sessions together both rewarding and fun. I also like the fact that we tutors discover new things about language and even culture as we work with our students."
- Lara Aho, ReadWest BL/ESL Tutor since 2010.

"Luda was so intelligent and eager to learn, it made working with her so easy and rewarding. However, tutoring is a learning experience for the tutor too. I had to privilege of enjoying some Ukrainian food and attending a celebration with her family. Today she is working in a school helping others."
- Robert Will, ReadWest BL/ESL Tutor since 2000.

Tips for Tutors

· Use the Internet when planning lessons. When you find an interesting site, explore any links it offers. About.com has good lessons: go to about.com, look at the list on the left side. Click ‘education’, then click ‘English as a Second Language’ on the next list and then start exploring.

· Google ‘How to use the Internet in ESL’ (without quotation marks) and explore those sites.

· When you teach the same thing every way you can think of, and the learner still doesn’t get it, STOP. Teach them something else for a while.

· Go back to the I Speak English textbook and handouts once in a while. Browse! There’s good stuff in there and you couldn’t possibly learn it all the first (or second) time.

· Laugh!

Volunteering at ReadWest

ReadWest tutors are part of an elite family of volunteers who are appreciated and valued by ReadWest staff and students. No teaching experience or foreign language knowledge is necessary. If you would like more information about volunteering at ReadWest, please email readwestpc@earthlink.net.

Each ReadWest Tutor receives free training by attending an 18-hour Tutor Certification Program provided by the New Mexico Coalition for Literacy. ReadWest staff provides free continuing education, a variety of tutoring materials and personal assistance.

At ReadWest, the most important donation we receive is your time. If you read well and have the patience to teach others, please consider setting aside some time to help others learn to read or teach someone how speak English as their second language. This kind of donation is different than most as you are giving your student the tools to improve their lives. So many students are willing to do the work in order to get ahead in life. Teaching someone to read can be the most satisfying donation you will ever experience.

VOLUNTEER TUTOR TRAINING
Tutor training is free. However, there is a $20 charge for your Tutor Manual. It begins with an Orientation (1 hour) followed by two consecutive Saturdays of training. Both sessions must be completed in order to obtain Certification from the New Mexico Coalition for Literacy.

ReadWest offers two types of Tutor Training - Basic Literacy (BL) and English as a Second Language (ESL). Orientations are offered at 10 am and 6 pm for your convenience at ReadWest. Saturday sessions begin at 9:00am to 5:00pm with a break for lunch (on your own). Trainings are located at the ReadWest facility or in the Albuquerque area. Check each session to see the locations.

Once trained, ReadWest will match you with an adult student to meet in a public place once a week for two hours. ReadWest supplies you with information about the student, arranges your first meeting and provides support to both tutor and student throughout the match.

2011-2012 Program Year Tutor Training Schedule

The New Mexico Coalition for Literacy provides regional trainings by certified Tutor Trainers.

BL – Basic Literacy Training
(Teaching adults to read and write and/or prepare for the GED)

ESL – English as a Second Language (Teaching adults to speak English as their second language – no Foreign Language experience necessary)

Separate trainings are given for BL & ESL. Please note locations.

BL Tutor Training
Orientation: November 1^st 10 am or 6 pm at ReadWest
Saturday Trainings: November 5^th & 12^th 9 am – 5 pm at Catholic Charities, ABQ (Maps provided at orientation)

ESL Tutor Training
Orientation: January 4^th 10 am or 6 pm at ReadWest
Saturday Trainings: January 7^th & 14^th 9 am – 5 pm at ReadWest

BL Tutor Training
Orientation: January 30^th 10 am or 6 pm at ReadWest
Saturday Trainings: February 4^th & 11^th 9 am – 5 pm at ReadWest

Additional trainings will be posted as they become available.

For more information on volunteer training, please contact Muncie Hansen at
(505) 892-1131, or email readwestpc@earthlink.net