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It's about the Original American Dream
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Recent Census data indicates that there are over 100,000 residents in Ventura County who are not proficient in speaking, understanding, reading and writing American English. Many of them have given up trying to learn because they have been embarassed when they tried to communicate using American English .
We Need 100,000 tutors to provide a person-to-person safe and supportive situation for Adult English Learners to practice and learn American English. Group conversation practice opportunities are also available at local libraries.
Be a tutor, change a life. It's about the original American Dream. Laubach Literacy of Ventura County has been doing this for over 40 years so we know it really works.
Ventura School Official Receives Achievement Award
Dr. Kyunghae Schwartz, Director of Student Support Services for the Ventura Unified School District recently received the Adult English Learner Achievement Award from Laubach Literacy of Ventura County, Ed Lynch, Treasurer of LLVC, made the presentation.
Dr. Schwartz, a middle school teacher in Korea; came to the U.S. in 1986 with a three year old daughter and an American husband. She mastered English as an Adult English Learner while working at a variety of jobs, including working at a bakery and selling dresses at a department store, and working in financial institutions as a teller and then a supervisor. She completed the state teaching credential while working full-time; teaching at a middle school in North Hollywood, at a high school in Reseda and then in Oxnard. She obtained an M.A.degree from CSUN with an administrative credential and Ed.D from USC. That led to holding school site administrator positions in Oxnard and Ventura. Now she is working at the Ventura Unified School District office. Her aspirations are to live with purpose, with kindness and wisdom. The things she enjoys are family time, reading, yoga and meditation, and working with the children of the community schools.
Laubach Literacy of Ventura County is an all-volunteer 501(c)3 non-profit corporation andhas been active for over forty years using the Laubach teaching methodology and materials published by the Laubach organization. Each year a hundred or so tutors have giftedabout 10,000 hours of time, patience, and encouragement to adult English learners whowork hard to achieve their goals.... their American Dream.
Many more tutors are needed, there are always adult English learners from many countries around the world waiting for a tutor.
Have you ever had to learn a second language as an adult? It wasn’t easy, was it? Have you needed a second language to get a job, to shop at the market, to get a driver’s license or medical attention or to simply to talk with your grandchildren? Did it take a long time to be able to communicate well enough to be understood and to understand your neighbors and co-workers?
When immigrants come to America, they come with great dreams for a better life and they always face great challenges. Acquiring skills to be able to function in a new country requires hard work and determination. One of the greatest and most difficult challenges immigrants face in their quest to realize their “American dream” is that of learning American English as an adult.
New arrivals often depend on English as a Second Language (ESL) classes offered through adult education programs or local colleges. However, work schedules, family demands and transportation issues frequently interfere with taking advantage of these opportunities. Many who do manage to attend have to struggle to keep up in a classroom environment. And now, ESL resources are gradually disappearing as a result of budget cuts.
Laubach Literacy of Ventura County is a non-profit all-volunteer non-sectarian organization whose members share their time and talents in a one-on-one learning situation with adults who want to learn English. Volunteers are trained as tutors at no cost, provided with free study materials and paired with a learner. The learner and the tutor decide when, where and how often they will be working together. This approach provides flexibility not found in classroom situations. The tutor also acts as a ‘cultural coach”, explaining the new and different experiences their students encounter.
Learning English as an adult is a slow process, but it is a process that can profoundly change the life of the learner and of the tutor. You can help another person reach his or her dream of a better life, enriching your own life along the way.
Laubach Literacy of Ventura invites you to be a “Life-Changer” by becoming a tutor. You have it within your power to make dreams come true! If you are not able to help by tutoring, then please consider providing the financial support that buys the books and study materials provided without charge to those we serve.
For more information about volunteer opportunities with Laubach Literacy of Ventura County, Inc. visit the other pages on this website or contact us at 805-385-9584.
2012 will mark the 25th Anniversary of Laubach Literacy of VenturaCounty becoming a 501(c)3 non-profit organization although the organization has served the county for over 40 years. This milestone will be celebrated in a number of ways.
Laubach Literacy invites anyone in the county, as well as, everyone who is currently or has ever been a tutor, adult English learner, Board member, or volunteer to share your experiences with us so we can compile an album of how Laubach Literacy has impacted Ventura County. We have important stories to share with the world, but only if you choose to share them with us. I am also hopeful that many of you will be willing to do a short video interview about your experiences so we can produce a promotional/training video this year. Please contact any Board member, or contact us at 805-385-9584 or admin@laubachventura.org, to let us know who you are and how we can get in touch with you.
Laubach Literacy trains and supports volunteers who provide free, student-centered tutoring to foreign born adult English Learners who want to improve their English skills and understand U.S. culture.
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Our Mission...
"Train and support volunteers who provide free, student-centered tutoring to adult English Learners who want to improve their English skills and to understand U.S. culture"
Our Vision...
"A world where all people participate successfully in the community, empowered by language skills that are the key to effective participation."
Laubach Literacy is an all volunteer non-profit organization whose volunteers provide no-cost, student-centered tutoring to adult English Learners who reside in Ventura County and want to improve their speaking, reading, writing, and comprehension of English, as well as, understanding the U.S. culture in which they now live.
Laubach ESL Tutoring is based on the ESL teaching methodology originated by Dr. Frank Laubach, and is affiliated with Proliteracy America, an International Literacy organization.
In 2002, Literacy Volunteers of America merged with Laubach Literacy to become ProLiteracy.
Volunteer Tutors are trained by certified trainers in the Laubach ESL methodology at no cost to the volunteer or English Learner. Tutoring is done at a time and place that is convenient to both parties, usually local public libraries.
This is not an adult literacy program sponsored by a library. Library adult literacy programs often refer individuals whose English skills do not meet their criteria.
Volunteer directors register and maintain adult English Learner contact information and match the student with a tutor in the same area.