I have been a tutor with the Volusia Literacy Council since July, 2003. I have been tutoring my students, “Sarita and Berto” (names have been changed for publication), since January, 2006. When they first came to me, neither of them spoke a word in English, but I was determined to make this work out of sheer perserverance and their yearn for commitment. Throughout the years, they have been dedicated to learning and comprehending English. We now have general conversations ranging from family customs to work-related issues. Sometimes we have class at the local grocery store, post office or even a fast-food restaurant — all so they can experience our American culture and characteristics. They were a bit nervous at first, but in the end, they truly enjoyed this exciting venue.
After the birth of my son, I didn’t tutor for several months. I asked if they would like another tutor but they declined and waited patiently for my return. To my amazement, they remembered a lot of things. It was almost as if I had never stopped tutoring. When they took the assessment test, lo and behold, both did way above what I and West Volusia Program Director Jonel Persinger had expected. I congratulated them immensely on a job well done. Then they gave them all the praise. I fought back tears because I am VERY, VERY proud of them and their accomplishments. Even their sons are astonished about how far they’ve come.
I visited Luis’ job recently and spoke with his general manager and other coworkers. They are ecstatically pleased with his improvement. As for Maria, I’ve spoken with several of her co-workers who noticed improvements in her comprehension and ability to feel confident enough to speak English. As I continue to tutor, I grow more and mroe fascinated with them. They are always willing to learn and try something new, which keeps tutoring fun and exciting.
Many times, I have to tell them class is over, only to hear, “Awwwwww, already?” … This is truly one of the greatest achievements I have ever done in my life.
– Shalley Lavalas, tutor, Volusia Literacy Council
(adapted from the May-June 2009 West Volusia newsletter, “Literacy Life Steps.”