I’m writing to invite my fellow Delawareans to help Literacy Delaware fulfill its mission of empowering adult learners to realize their potential as confident, self-sufficient and productive employees, family members and contributors to their communities. Literacy Delaware trains volunteer tutors to work with learners at mutually convenient times.
I was interested in teaching English as a second language and found Literacy Delaware through a course I took at the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute. After completing my training, I was matched with Paco, a musician from Senegal.
Paco speaks English pretty well, but reading and writing is more of a challenge. In working with Paco, I learned that he enjoys biographies, with texts provided by Literacy Delaware geared toward beginning readers. Paco has learned about famous people from Martin Luther King Jr. to Cesar Chavez to Jimi Hendrix.
To help with his writing, I have Paco keep a daily written journal, in which he notes the day’s weather and what Senegalese lunch he makes.
In addition to my extreme pride in seeing Paco’s skills grow, the experience has opened my eyes to seeing our country from another person’s perspective. I appreciate that working with Paco has given me an increased understanding of and respect for the peaceful Muslim religion.
I believe that learning is one of the greatest things in life and that you can learn for your whole life, which has proven true for both me and Paco.
Literacy Delaware has tutor training coming up in May. To learn more about becoming a volunteer tutor, visit literacydelaware.org, email admin@literacydelaware.org or call 302-658-5624.
Claire Laveglia
Wilmington
