Tutors & Volunteers

Tutors do not need to have an background in teaching, nor do they need to know how to teach. Tutors must:

• have the desire to help somebody else achieve their goal
• be at least 24 years of age
• complete the orientation and a 6 hour training
• complete follow up training and workshops as necessary
• be able to commit to meeting their learner for a minimum of 1 hour per week for 1 year
• participate in at least 2 tutor meetings or trainings per year
• complete and submit reports as requested

Orientation and Training

Tutors are required to attend a brief orientation and complete tutor training. The orientation lasts approximately 1 hour. Orientation must be completed before attending the training sessions.

2013 Orientation Dates                                         2013 Training Dates**

January 22, 6:00 pm                                                February 19 & 26, 5:30-8:30 pm

April 24, 10:00 am                                                   May 1 & 8, 9:00 am - 12:00 pm

July 24, 6:00 pm                                                      August 6 & 13, 5:30-8:30 pm

October 17, 10:00 am                                               November 13 & 20, 9:00 am - 12:00 pm

**There is a $25.00 Material fee for this training

Other volunteer opportunities

There are many other volunteer opportunities that would help the literacy program, including:

• Office support
• Event planning
• Teaching classes
• Doing assessments
• Marketing and fundraising

For more information contact the Literacy Office at 949.717.3874, email literacy@newportbeachca.gov or stop by the office to complete an application.

Book Club - a discussion group for adult learners about book selections in classic or modern fiction.

Pronunciation - work with a professional speech therapist in a  small group setting on 'proper' American English pronunciation.

Learner Network - A quarterly meeting for Adult Learners to learn more about the program and each other in a safe, non-judgmental environment.

Tutor Connection - A quarterly meeting for tutors to keep up to date on the latest in literacy and to share accomplishments, tips and anecdotes about the program

Communicating with Confidence - a twice a month conversation class for learners to practice their English Skills.

Writing Class - Workshops geared to working with the adult learner on creative writing or business writing.  Each workshop is typically 4-6 weeks.

Discussion Group - A weekly gathering of learners who are encouraged to participate in speaking on any number of topcis that are presented during the session.

Conversation - The goal is to help participants understand and communicate comfortably in every-day idiomatic English.

Life Skills Dialogues - Learners gather to practice dialogues that will help them feel more confident in a variety of social situations: meeting a teacher, getting their car serviced, placing an order, visiting the doctor, etc.

Movie Talk - Once a month a movie selection is screened for assembled learners. Each film normally deals with different issues that we face in the United States and afterwardes the group participates in an open discussion about the different topics addressed in the movie.

International Literacy Day - an annual celebration of literacy and Newport/Mesa ProLiteracy, held each year in September.