The Prez Sez, “Communication is the keystone of all human cultures and success…”

Learning to speak, understand, read, and write a second language as an adult is one of the most difficult undertakings any one take on.   Teaching an English Learner to speak, understand, read, and write the English Language, and understand U.S. culture is every bit as challenging, but our tutors do have an advantage, they already know the language.

An English Learner who does the hard work and masters the language is a unique and special person, who deserves to be recognized and acknowledged. The Board has been discussing projects to do just that in a variety of ways, i.e., producing articles for local publications, hosting an award event, or others. This can produce a lot of attention and exposure for our organization.

But before we can do that we need to know who this person is. I am convinced there must be many English Learners who received tutoring from Laubach Literacy of Ventura County who have gone on to great success and accomplished wonderful things in our community.

A recent episode of “Undercover Boss” featured David Kim, owner of Baja Fresh, who is an English Learner from Korea. There must be others like him in Ventura County.

We need your help. Send us the name and contact of anyone you know who fits this description.   When Marianne asks you for your hours, send along a name.

I sincerely appreciate your ongoing support for our efforts.

Please join us at our next Board workshop meeting. Information is below in this newsletter, or you can check our website for date and time.

K. Edw. Lynch

Board President 
More LLVC News Below.
Laubach Literacy Online Donation Website

ANNUAL MEETING

Y'all come! Everyone's invited to our Annual Meeting on July 16 (Saturday) from 10 AM to noon at Café on "A", 438 South "A" Street, between 4^th and 5^th Streets, Oxnard. Please invite your family, your students, and their families to join us for brunch and a very brief business meeting to elect the Board of Directors and approve the budget. Then enjoy some camaraderie with the world's most wonderful people. We'll also have a few door prizes. (Please let us know you're coming so we'll know how many to expect.)

DONATIONS

LLVC thanks the following companies and individuals for their generous support from March through May of this year. We can't do it without you. Thank you!

Monetary contributions were received from: Diane LeDesma, Hong O'Brien, and Macy's Matching Gifts (from the Timrotts' donation). We also received a $1,000 grant from the Scripps-Howard Foundation on behalf of Darrin Peschka's volunteer work; a $250 grant from the Prudential Foundation on behalf of Barbara Wagner's volunteerism; and a $3,500 grant each year from the Martin V. and Martha K. Smith Foundation for three years.

In-kind contributions were received from:  ReMax Realtors, Veterans' Residence of  Ventura County, Marianne Flam, Laurence Howard, Ed Lynch, and Barbara Wagner. You can also provide support by specifying us as your nonprofit to share in the Ralph's Community Program at              This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ;

LLVC is NPO #82697.   Note: Those of us who participate in this program need to re-register each year after September 1. That can also be done at Ralph's website. Thanks.

 And special thanks for in-kind support from corporate sponsor:

FUTURE TUTOR TRAINING

Our next training opportunity for new tutors will be September 24 with a follow-up session on October 22. We'll be presenting information about cultural awareness, how adults learn, second language acquisition, lesson planning, tutoring materials and tips; all of you are invited to attend as a refresher or to take the opportunity to meet one on one with any of our trainers. Please call (805) 385-9584 or email us at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it to have us save a space for you and provide directions. Please let your friends know about this opportunity; as always, there’s no charge for the training and materials for those who tutor.

GOOD NEWS

Congratulations to Millie Rubenstein's student, Maria Valencia on passing her U.S. citizenship test. Our congratulations also to Harvey Johnson's student who recently got a job and to Bobbie Koenigsberger's student Jose Razo who completed his machinist's classes and is working at various jobs, continuing to work for a permanent full-time position; anyone need a machinist?

Reaching out to the community

LLVC recently manned a booth at the Festival in the Park in Ventura.

Ed Lynch recently made a presentation to 15 members of the Ventura Breakfast Lions Club.

WELCOME NEW TUTORS

There were 17 attendees at the April 9 tutor training workshop. On April 30, the following received their LLVC certificates: Paula Geeting, Doug Jones, Lynda Karl, Angela Reimers, Margarita Rodriguez, Cyndi Rowton, Dana Swanson, Ray Sobrino, and Amy Trejo.

Although unable to complete both training sessions, the following have already started tutoring: Barbara Coffman, Toni Funck, Harold Goldwasser, and Lee Ormsby.

Welcome to all and thank you for joining us!

And from one of the attendees, Dana Swanson, this report….

Tutor Training Session - April 30, 2011 

Bright and early Saturday morning, April 30 from 9-12pm, the Laubach Literacy of Ventura County held the second training session for those interested in becoming an ESL tutor. The first all day session was held on April 9. The second session focused on additional training techniques of the Laubach teaching method.

Having attended both sessions, I found the training to be informative in different ways. In the second session, the instructors gave the student’s time to network by showing several resources available thru Laubach. Being among those that have never taught ESL, there was a great deal of uncertainty exactly how to present language skills to adults without offending them by using material that seemed elementary. Not to worry, there are several levels of materials available, along with great suggestions on their use.

An experienced tutor was also in attendance and offered to personally help anyone who might like to have hands on experience by working directly with him and his students. What a great gift!

The interaction between the students helped calm the jittery nerves and gave direction to the task at hand. The suggestions from all levels of tutors, beginners to advanced, were helpful. For example, I’d never thought to use musical lyrics as a vehicle to teach English. There were so many great ideas by the end of the session my notes consisted of pages of resources along with contacts to gather additional help.

Throughout both sessions it was clear the intention of the group was to pay forward the many blessings we often forget living in the United States. How wonderful to have a tutor help with the language of countries I’ve visited. The non-English students receiving Laubach instruction aren’t visiting, they’re living here. Speaking English certainly improves their employment, education, and everyday living skills dramatically.

The next training sessions are scheduled for September, 2011. If you’re interested in embarking on a gratifying adventure which improves lives, perhaps you might consider becoming an ESL (English as a Second Language) tutor. From personal experience, it’s fun.

TUTOR TIPS

A number of our tutors have reported success with their students using News for You. This is a weekly newspaper that has a variety of international articles including hard news, entertainment, and sports and also includes a crossword puzzle. It comes with a Teacher's Guide and is also available in hard copy, but the online version allows the reader to listen to the stories while they read. They can listen over and over again to help with their aural comprehension. Please take a look yourself and share with your students; call us at (805) 385-9584 to get the password.

UPCOMING EVENTS:

• June 16, 2011, Thursday:  Board meeting at 1:00PM at the ReMax Building at 1500 Palma Dr. in Ventura. All Board members, tutors, and students are invited to attend. 
• July 16, Saturday:       Our Annual Meeting at 10:00 AM at Café on "A", 438 South "A" Street (between 4^th and 5^th Streets), Oxnard. 
• September 24, Saturday: Tutor Training Workshop, Veterans' Residence, Ventura. 
• October 22, Saturday: Follow-up Workshop, Veterans' Residence, Ventura.

THANKS

As you know, we try to get as much mileage as possible out of our tutoring materials. If you have any books you’re not using, they could be put to use by other tutors. Please give us a call at (805) 385-9584 so that we can make arrangements to pick them up. This will help us stretch our funding to its greatest value. Thanks.

If you believe this is a public service that is important, support this work by donating online at Laubach Literacy Online Donation website.

Or, send a check made out to "Laubach Literacy of Ventura County" at: P.O.Box 5185, Oxnard, CA 93031
Thank You For Your Support 

The Board

President:               K. Edward Lynch

Vice President:       Laurence Howard

Secretary:                 Dana Swanson

Treasurer:               Barbara Wagner

Directors:

Linda Lambert

Marianne Flam

Lee Woodward

Bettie Hallett

Martha Zoloth

Lisa Zycher

Oxnard Adult School Liaison:       Judy Perkins

Oxnard Library Liaison:                  Barbara Warrington

Ventura County Library Liaison:   Carol Chapman

Community Advisor:                         Dr. Deborah DeVries