Become a tutor, change a life

By: 
Esther Noe
The Literacy Council of the Black Hills (LCBH) has its next Adult Literacy Tutor Training coming up in March. 
LCBH is a 38-year-old non-profit organization serving all of the Black Hills.
“Our mission is to empower, educate and encourage adult students who want to improve their literacy skills,” said program coordinator Jenn Utecht. 
Improving literacy skills could include reading, writing, basic English or learning English as another language. LCBH has 70 students representing 20 different countries, of which the three highest percentages of students come from Latin America, Ukraine and Asian countries. 
“Our volunteers are so important to helping all of these students,” said Utecht. 
Tammy Alexander, director of the Hill City Public Library, took part in a previously held tutor training from LCBH along with three other community members and was excited to support the training in March. 
“There’s a lot of tutors in the area,” said Alexander. “It’s a very quiet organization doing a lot of good work.”
The Adult Literacy Tutor Training will take place at the Rapid City Public Library over the course of three sessions and 10 classroom hours. This training is offered four times a year, and a $50 donation is suggested to cover the cost of training materials such as a book for literacy tutors and a handbook with additional resources. 
Utecht  said additional donations are welcome as well to keep the organization running strong. 
During the training attendees will learn cultural etiquette, how to work with adult learners and be trained in the recommended curriculum. They will also have the opportunity to interact with current tutors and students to ask questions and decrease uncertainty. 
“There’s lots of tutors who have  been doing it for years so if you need help, they are very generous,” said Alexander.
There are no requirements or qualifications for being a tutor.
“We provide all the training, the resources and support for our volunteer tutors so that they can be successful working with any adult literacy student,” Utecht said.
Utecht said the students are highly motivated. They come because they have a need they want to meet. This often gives them a sense of enthusiasm and consistency because what they’re learning will allow them to provide for their families, achieve goals, become successful, connect with the community and get better jobs. 
While students come with varying needs, some are well-educated and literate in their own language but cannot speak English. However, speaking another language is not a requirement for being a tutor. 
As soon as tutors complete their training, Utecht pairs them with a student based on their combined preferences and schedules. Utecht will then meet with the tutor and students to help get them started. 
The student will set learning goals and with this starting point Utecht will suggest resources or curriculum based on the goals. These goals could include job readiness, citizenship, getting a driver’s license, obtaining certifications or achieving English proficiency to go to college. 
“We tailor our services to what the student really needs,” said Utecht. “It’s very much student-driven.”
LCBH also has three recommended curriculums tailored to teach basic English to anyone depending on their current level of proficiency. 
“My job after that is to provide support for the tutor as he or she needs,” said Utecht. Additionally, there are “Tutor Talks” every three months where tutors can gather for a short seminar to connect with each other and hear a presentation on teaching tools. 
“It seems scary at first, especially if you’re not a teacher,” said Alexander. “But with the way they’ve got the books set up, it’s not that bad. The tutors that I’ve talked with have enjoyed the process so far.” 
Since tutor and student meetings need to occur in a public place, Alexander is offering the Hill City Public Library as well as the annex as possible meeting places. Along with this, Alexander volunteered to get resources from local libraries for tutors and even provide workbooks for students to write in if they cannot be afforded. 
“Whatever they need, we will facilitate for the student and the tutor,” said Alexander. 
Alexander sees a need for learning English as a second language in Hill City. In fact, “There’s actually a waiting list in Hill City now for students to be tutored,” Alexander said. 
To Alexander, volunteering to be a literacy tutor is a way to give back to the community.
“I think a community is only as strong as everyone in it,” she said. 
“It changes their lives,” said Utecht. “What our tutors are able to accomplish with students is truly impacting people’s lives, families and communities.” 
Students can sign up to be tutored through a form on literacycouncilblack
hills.org, by emailing litcouncilblackhills@gmail.com or by calling 605-391-0854. 
Those interested in becoming tutors can register by calling, texting or emailing. The March training will take place March 4 from 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., March 7 from 5-7 p.m. and March 9 from 5-7 p.m.
 

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