Adult Literacy Program
Description
Hawaii Literacy trains volunteer tutors to teach basic reading and writing skills to English-speaking adults in the community. We offer an orientation which is open to anyone interested in the problems of illiteracy and Hawaii Literacy's program. The orientation includes a brief introduction to Hawaii Literacy, the causes and problems that low-literacy skills may create, and the nature of our training programs; we also discuss what is expected of Hawaii Literacy volunteer tutors. The orientation provides an opportunity to ask questions about literacy and about Hawaii Literacy's programs. The orientation is required if you plan to take the tutor training.
Following the orientation, there is a 16 hour tutor-training workshop. During the workshop, the participants learn nationally-recognized tutoring methods and how to use the materials that will be employed during tutoring. Upon completion of the training, the participant becomes a nationally certified volunteer literacy tutor, and s/he becomes a member of the national literacy organization, ProLiteracy for six months.
The students at Hawaii Literacy come from various educational backgrounds- some dropped out of school in kindergarten, some graduated from high school, and everything in between. Many of them speak English as their first language; some have learned English as a second language, but we require that they have good verbal communication skills because we are not teaching the English language- we are teaching reading and writing. The student and tutor decide together when and where they will meet. It is recommended that they meet twice a week for an hour to an hour-and-a-half in a public meeting place, such as a library or a community center. In the training, we discuss several series of books that provide structure and guidance when working with the student.
The student and tutor meet together for as long as it is satisfactory to both. There is no set time that a tutor works with a particular student because the students vary greatly in their skills upon entering the program, have different goals, and have varied levels of motivation. We ask volunteers to commit to 6 months of tutoring.
Volunteer
Imagine helping an adult increase his or her reading and writing skills in order to become a more active member of society. The new learner acquires skills necessary to function more fully in his/her personal life and in the community. We use a one-to-one tutoring approach, which has been proven to be the most successful method in working with an adult new learner. The tutoring sites and times are determined by the volunteer tutor and the adult learner. Public sites, such as libraries, churches, parks, or community centers, are recommended meeting locations. It is recommended that tutors meet with their students twice a week for an hour or an hour and a half each time. We hold orientations which are open to anyone interested in learning about the problems of illiteracy, some of its causes and effects, and the Hawaii Literacy program. An orientation is required before you take the tutor training, which is 16 hours long.
Active volunteers can participate on the Hawaii Literacy Message Board at www.groups.yahoo.com.You can sign in by using the Username: hawaii_literacy and Password: hiliteracy. Volunteers can post questions, solutions, comments, or ideas.
Hours - Oahu
Monday - Friday, 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM
*Hours are the administrative office only. Tutoring takes place outside of the office.
View the Tutor Orientation and Training Schedules.
Address - Oahu
Adult Literacy - Oahu Office
200 N. Vineyard Blvd., Suite 320
Honolulu, HI 96817
Directions
This is the location of the administrative offices only. Tutoring takes place outside of the office. To get to the office, WESTBOUND on H-1, take the Vineyard Blvd. exit; at the 5th signal light (A'ala St., just past Foster Gardens) turn right. The building ("Castle and Cooke Community Service Center") is on the corner. EASTBOUND on H-1, take the Vineyard Blvd. exit; at the 4th signal light (A'ala St.) turn left. The building ("Castle and Cooke Community Service Center") is on the corner.
Nearest Bus Stop
#2, #3, #13, #11, #93, B Liliha/Vineyard, 3 minute walk
Contact - Oahu
Heidi Byrne, Adult Literacy Program Manager
E-mail: heidi.byrne@HawaiiLiteracy.org
Tel: 537-6706 Fax: 537-3072
Laura Zysman, Adult Literacy Program Assistant
E-mail: laura.zysman@HawaiiLiteracy.org
Tel: 537-6706 Fax: 537-3072
Address - Kauai
Adult Literacy - Kauai Office
P.O. Box 1101
Kalaheo, Kauai, HI 96741
Contact - Kauai
Dennis Dresser, Adult Literacy Coordinator
E-mail: dennis.dresser@HawaiiLiteracy.org
Tel: 635-5915