Bangor Literacy Volunteers Adapt Tutor Training to Meet Needs

BANGOR, Maine (WABI) – At a time when the need for volunteers has never been greater, a Bangor organization is making it easier to help.

Since 1969, Literacy Volunteers of Bangor has relied on individuals to volunteer their time to work with adults on basic English skills and learning English as a second language.

Serving about 170 people a year, the nonprofit hopes to increase the number of students to 200 next year.

To meet this need, they have modified their tutor certification program to make it as accessible as possible.

They are transforming their in-person classes into hybrid classes and will soon offer fully online learning. Not only does this eliminate commute time, but they say classes are 35% shorter than before.

This will reduce the total course duration from 14-15 hours to 10.

Hoping to help those on their waiting list, literacy volunteers don’t want anything to get in the way of those who want to get involved.

“We really want people to feel prepared and we want to give them some basic information that will allow them to help someone read or speak English,” says Executive Director Mary Taylor. “But because we want to help, we don’t want certification to be a barrier and we want to make the process as simple as possible.”

Tutor certification courses begin October 16 and last approximately one month.

To apply, you just need to have a high school diploma and be over 18 years old.

Lee White has been a tutor with Literacy Volunteers of Bangor for several years and says it has been a rewarding experience that has been made easier by the guidance of her mentors.

Using student-centered models, every tutoring lesson is different because it is tailored to the student’s goals, skills, and needs.

White compares teaching literacy to tending a garden: It takes time, but before you know it, the seed you plant is blooming and bearing fruit.

“There’s nothing like having someone look at you and say, ‘Oh, you mean that means this? Oh, I used that word the other day, oh my God!’ There’s nothing like it,” White notes.

Although Bangor Literacy Volunteers encourage volunteer tutors to donate $35 to attend the certification course, Taylor says there are scholarships available.