Volunteer as a Tutor in California’s Adult Literacy Program
Friday,
1/31/2014 – It’s my first of five
‘Tutor Training” from VolunteerMatch
Program. It starts 5:00 pm – 8:30
pm. It sounds so serious. Yes, I was ready to putting myself out
there and staying engaged with the community. That’s one of my retirement resolutions. I will never want to become a few
of my co-workers who retired at 65 and played for about five years and they’re
done! In a way, America has given me
so much opportunity for the past 40 years, which I am grateful forever. I feel like I really owe it my own
undivided loyalty for all these years.
But,
I was very nervous! To tell you the truth, #1. I do not know the area enough.
#2. It’s nighttime training. I
haven’t done any driving at night in California yet. I just got here, Ventura CA, barely a month ago from
Maryland of almost 35 years! Well, this is how my volunteer journey begins:
It
all started here at Ventura in January, when I was surfing on-line for teaching
English as a volunteer in California on the weekend basis. The VolunteerMatch
Program was popping all over on my Google search. There was no contact numbers where I could talk to any human
being at all, until all my credential and past experience were provided and
screened, through on-line step-by-step, sometimes, cumbersome and endless
pathway in a maze. At least, that’s
not so bad! Then, the interactive
e-mailing got rolling pretty quickly with the program manager of Ventura County
Library, Carol Chapman and office manager, Paula Retrossi. So eventually, the phone numbers
embedded in the labyrinth of network agencies to contact. What a good security software they must
have installed to avoid the phone numbers revealed in this digital world! They called me instead to welcome me
for being accepted as a tutor in California’s Adult Literacy Program. They told me to look out for the mailed
program package. Finally, four
pages of document and brochure, that I need to fill out, came in the mail in
time for me to start this once every 6 months training to be a tutor in
California.
Aside
from my resume I already compiled hastily and accepted during the on-line
application, the packet also asked for 3 referrals! Surprised! It
looks like I am applying for my first job! Luckily, my County supervisors and co-worker all happily
responded to my request with the short notice. I am honored to have such a quick turnaround from them.
From
the program package I received, I found out the program was actually endorsed
by 1. Council for the Advancement of Adult Literacy 2. American Library
Association 3. National Organization for the Promotion of Literacy 4. Verizon
Literacy University. This is
a pre-requisite training program as a qualified California Tutor in Adult
Literacy program. I do not
know they are this organized and serious-minded.
The
program is a state funded program, definitely well run all right. Jerry Brown, the Governor, initiated the program, originally at
Oakland Public Library, at the end of his second term as California’s Governor
in 1983, and it was cut a few years ago due to budget crisis and economic
downturn. Now, he again not only restores, but also provides
substantially more beginning in 2015-16, $500 million instead of $300 million
in his original budget proposal for 2013-2014. It’s a substantial amount, however controversial it is. We, Marylanders, probably will have
plenty of eye-rolling and head-shaking over his announcement. How is that possible?
Is
the funding putting the money where the California’s needs are? It is clear that he intends to boost the
economic well being of Californians who voted for him not only once, but twice
and three times.
Jerry
Brown, the longest serving governor in California, first caught my eyes in 1975
when I was a graduate student, just beginning to watch Walter Cronkite’s CBS
news on the grainy black-and-white TV, which Ben and I bought cheap from
student’s yard sale at Blacksburg, Virginia. I remembered him for empathizing and advocating farm
workers, women and minorities. Then,
later something about him being a priest and a gray and bald third term
governor. Anyhow, being the
politician for all his life, he knows that a well-educated workforce is key to
state prosperity. Investing in education
is also good for state budgets in the long run, since workers with higher
educations/incomes contribute more through taxes over the course of their
lifetimes.
The
truth is, as we all know, agriculture is the mainstay in California and this
industry is so labor intensive. All the farm workers are the key to California’s
agricultural production, which are the supply chains for the US food
system. They may not need any
education to pick the strawberries, cut the lettuce or crop the vegetables where
I saw at Oxnard Valley on the VISTA trip.
They may not even have any legal status to work in US. But, our population relies on their
labor to put food on the table. My
notion is they have fed Americans for over a long period of time historically. The hotly debated Immigrant Reform Bill
should, one way or the other, grant the farm workers the legal status one day.
– It’s my personal point of view with a little sentimental touch at this stage
of my life.
Let’s
get back to the volunteering. I made
the ‘dry run’ around 6:15 pm when both my daughter and son-in-law came home
early and settled down their son, Forest.
They are very supportive of my volunteering initiative. Bless their hearts! Otherwise, they would probably feel
guilty for not being able to entertain me on the weekend basis.
Good,
I made it, not only the 1st class, but also, the 2nd time
training on Saturday 10:00 am with the bright sunny day. Following my researched Google Map from
the letter, I took I-126 E – S. Victoria St. and parked just in front of the
building 801 S. Victoria St. which is about 2.3 miles away from my daughter’s
place. It seemed to be far. The route actually was my 1st
VISTA bus ride to Fillmore. I
didn’t even realize it. The
challenge of night driving in an unfamiliar place is often unnerving.
I
met 15 people in the tutor-training program. All reserved in advance. The majority are experienced, seasoned retirees and one
young graduate student. – Professor, librarian, teachers, and different career
from their past. I saw them as
willing, passionate, fun, inspiring, and insightful with the rich background
and knowledge through the introduction at orientation session. The impression they gave me as relaxed,
happy and worry-free folks like I am.
Besides
all the teaching materials, supplies, and books provided free by the library’s
‘adult Literacy’ program, I found out that food is also one of many envy-worthy
perks. Since it’s dinner time 5:00
pm when class started. I was
surprised to see plenty of sandwiches, fresh California fruits – big strawberries,
blueberries, bananas, toasted nuts and different snacks on the table with
microwave, water cooler, kitchen sink, refrigerator and other amenities, even
though I packed my own simple cheese crackers for dinner. The place where we are for this
mandatory ‘Tutor Training’ is the Community Center Conference room at the Union
Bank, across from Ventura County Government – Nice Building. What are all these pampered perks? Just trying to get me to contribute as
a volunteer in California’s Adult Literacy program? I am being curious now.
The program manager for Ventura County
Libraries, Carol Chapman, petite size, a librarian looking in her 50s, told us
in the class that Jerry Brown will officially dedicate September as the ‘Month
of Literacy’ in California this year at the program’s 30th year
anniversary. As she said, ‘there
will be a lot of promotional programs and fun activities involved with not only
the tutors but also the learners.
There are plenty of powerful stories from the learners who would share
their transformative journey in learning and in life with us.’ One of the books she shared with
us – In a Fisherman’s Language by James Arruda Henry, a 98-year old lobster-boat captain
from Mystic, Connecticut, who had a secret for nearly 90 years. It’s so compelling that you would think
a man has been incognito for most of his life is still able to overcome the
odds and confront a life obstacle.
Finally, he can bravely tap his inner strength and find the resilience
to conquer all the impossible.
Wow,
free, one-on-one tutoring for any California adult who needs help with reading
and writing. When I shared my
first hand volunteer experience with my close high school classmate, who was
the graduate of ’71 NCKU Accounting Department, Jenny of Freemont,
California. She plans to devour The
Complete Works of William Shakespeare after she retires in one year or two. I had the opportunity to ask Carol, the manager about
Jenny’s Californian entitlement for this program. Nope, she said, “there is only one qualification: the learners, must be at
least 18 years or older, with 8th grade and lower based on the
pre-tutor assessment test, and have to speak English well enough to communicate
with a tutor.” It’s really that
so? Sorry, Jenny, you have to prove
yourself that you are really a functional illiterate or you can join the
Shakespeare’s Book Club to reach your after retirement goal. But, go for it, Jenny, it’s never too
late to do anything you decide for your life. Does Maryland offer this kind of service for our
Marylanders? It would be interesting
to find out.
I
think all these politicians; including President Obama have something in their
minds for the proposed federal immigration reform plan. According to
Carol, “the increasing need for ESL, citizenship, GED and other career tech
programs are all covered in this broad 'Adult literacy' mission. The only thing interesting surfaced, as
the program has run so far, you will find a lot of learning disabled, such as
dyslexia, dysgraphia and other attention disorders that impaired their reading
and writing process,” “You will be surprised, that there are endless group of
adults hiding out there, and are able to get by everyday life fine, but who
need help to achieve, at least, the self-esteem.” No wonder, I am more than
welcomed, immediately after my application.
As
the trainings progress, she introduced us several of teaching materials. Barton
Reading and Spelling System will be used. We were challenged to read and spell a word, bryxfrlds – a white fragrant
state flower in Poland. Boy, that
was hard. The point is to picture us
as those adult-illiterates when faced with struggle the simple word, read.
I
must commit myself with 2 hours of teaching per week and at least minimum of 50
hours per year. All lesson plans
and learner’s short and long-term goals paper are prepared by the tutors weekly
and the program site manager will review them twice a year in January and in
June, when the learner is assigned to us.
Then, in turn, the learners evaluation documents should turn over to
Government agency soliciting grant proposals and request more budget if there
is a need.
She
indicated that some of the counties might have more tutors than learners, and
vice versa in other counties. The
point is I can only limit my time for weekend and in Ventura area, due to my
family obligation. I need to have the balance of keeping my priority and
knowing my purpose. They, the program manager and site coordinators
completely understand that. So
they will try to find some leaners in this area if they can, once all these 5
pre-requisite classes are done at the end of February. It suits me well between my roles of
weekday Nanny at home and weekend explorer on the bus.
Just
like she said, the program’s mission is to help the endless people out there,
mothers, fathers, neighbors and workers who have difficulty writing a check or
reading a newspaper medicine labels or a bus schedule. One at a time, we will improve their reading and
writing skills so they can perceive positive impact on their lives in such
areas as self esteem, employment, family life and community involvement.
Well,
we will see how it goes from here.
They encouraged me that, ‘do not get discouraged, they will call you
when there is one out there to suit your schedule and location.’
I will be waiting out here in Ventura,
California.
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| CA Adult Literacy Training Session-Ventura |
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