"When you can't read it's like being a blind man. You have to trust people with everything."
— LVL student
Do You Want to Be a tutor?
Literacy Volunteers of the Lowcountry seeks volunteers to tutor adults in reading, writing, math or conversational English.
What is Literacy Volunteers of the Lowcountry (LVL)?
Literacy Volunteers of the Lowcountry is a not-for-profit organization which equips adults with the reading, writing, math and speaking skills that they need to be successful in the family, workplace and the community.
Who are LVL’s students?
Our students are adults 18 years or older, living or working in the greater Beaufort County area, who have a desire to realize their individual potential through increased literacy. Many did not finish high school and/or have difficulty with reading, writing, or math. Others speak a language other than English and want to learn English or improve their English-speaking ability.
What is LVL’s approach?
LVL instruction is whole-language based and student-centered. That is, lessons integrate listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills and are set in the context of students’ interests, goals, and everyday survival needs. Basic literacy (BL) students are matched with a tutor and work in a one-on-one learning environment. English literacy (EL) students are assigned to small groups or classes with students of similar language development. Small groups range from 2 to 5 students.
Do I need to have teaching experience or speak another language to be a tutor?
No. All volunteers will be trained by LVL and will work with a site coordinator who will assess students’ skills and recommend materials. The only educational requirement is that a volunteer tutor has the minimum of a high school diploma. Although knowledge of another language can be helpful, all our EL students are taught in English. EL groups often consist of people with a variety of language backgrounds.
What kind of support will I receive as a tutor?
All volunteers receive 12 or more hours of training. In addition, they will be assigned to a site and a site coordinator who will provide them with information about their student and will recommend materials for study. Periodically, informal “tutor talk” gatherings will be held, during which tutors share ideas and receive coaching on problems they may encounter. LVL personnel – usually the site coordinator – are always available for consultation.
What is the expected time commitment?
Ideally, tutors meet with their student(s) twice a week for a minimum of one hour. EL groups typically meet for two hours a session. In addition to time spent tutoring, volunteers spend an average of one-half hour to one hour per session in preparation time. BL tutors meet students at LVL’s Learning Centers or other public place at a time that is mutually convenient.
EL tutors meet daytimes or evenings at LVL centers or satellite locations on an LVL-arranged schedules for Fall, Winter, Spring, and Summer sessions.
What else is expected of tutors?
Although tutors are supported by site coordinators, they design their lesson plans to meet their students’ needs. A variety of materials and a continuum of skills are available to aid planning. In addition to preparing lessons and meeting with students, tutors submit monthly attendance reports and periodically evaluate students’ progress. Volunteers are asked to attend tutor talk sessions and to make a commitment of at least one year. Persons who travel extensively or who will be out of town for extended periods of time are advised to postpone tutoring until their schedules are freer or to volunteer in another capacity (e.g. fundraising, clerical support, or a short-term assignment) that doesn’t require regular attendance.
What traits characterize a successful tutor?
Persons who are successful tutors, above all, have a desire to help others. They are patient, tolerant, flexible, and resourceful. Adult students have many demands on them outside of their lessons that can pose conflicts at times. Although we tell students they are responsible for notifying their tutors of unavoidable absences, some do not. There have been times when tutors have been disappointed because a student did not appear as scheduled. A successful tutor needs to manage the tutor-student relationship and encourage student responsibility.
Are there some people who are not suited to tutoring?
We have occasionally had tutors who have discovered tutoring is not for them. Some have found that it takes a commitment they did not appreciate; others, that they lacked the flexibility or creativity required to respond to student needs or develop lessons.
What are the benefits of tutoring?
Although some students disappoint us, there are more advantages to tutoring than drawbacks. For one, relationships are forged with interesting people whom tutors would not have otherwise known. Tutors learn about other cultures and share in the excitement a student feels when he or she achieves a goal – whether it’s talking to a landlord on the telephone, reading from the Bible at church, or passing the G.E.D. Adults, for the most part, are very appreciative of the help they receive and have great respect for their “teachers”. Many long-term tutor-student relationships exist, and student “graduates” and their tutors remain long-time friends.
I'm interested! What do I do next?
- Complete and return a volunteer intake form. Click here to have more information sent to you. Please let us know in the Comments/Questions box that you want information sent to you about becoming a volunteer tutor.
- Attend a new volunteer information session. Once we have your contact information in our database, we can notify you of the next scheduled information session.
- Attend and successfully complete the next 12-hour training session. (There is a $40.00 charge for training and materials.)
- We hope you will decide to become one of our volunteer tutors and look forward to seeing you at our next information session.
You may also click here to download a Tutor Intake form. Print the form, complete it and return it to the nearest Literacy Center:
Beaufort Literacy Center, 1403 Prince St. Beaufort, SC 29902. Fax: 843-521-1945. Phone: 843-525-6658
Bluffton Literacy Center, PO Box 3725, Bluffton, SC 29910. Fax: 843-815-6617. Phone: 843-815-6616.
Hilton Head Literacy Center, 4 Oak Park Dr., Hilton Head, SC 29926. Fax: 843-681-6948. Phone: 843-681-6655.
Literacy Changes Lives!
