Literacy – Spanning the US :: Ardmore OK :: Winchester VA :: Portland OR

Literacy: Spanning the U.S.     

Ardmore

Family Literacy

Didn't Finish High School? Ardmore Program Offers Hope

KTEN: 12.19.2018 by Jackson Boland

There's never any guarantee when it comes to earning a high school diploma, but thanks to Ardmore Family Literacy, those who failed to graduate now have a way to obtain their GED.

"I had got two tests done and then a lot happened," said Bethany Kimberlin. "I moved back down here and I just really needed to get it finished so I could move forward with my future and my career."

Ardmore Family Literacy was established about five years ago, and has been helping people like Kimberlin since then.  READ MORE >>

Literacy Volunteers

Winchester

Literacy Volunteers Winchester Area Meets Demand For More English Language Classes

Local DVM: 12.19.2018 by Bria Lloyd

Starting on January 14, Literacy Volunteers Winchester Area will be adding more adult English learning classes to their weekly schedule.

"This immigrant community, the English learner community, is growing. The demand is out there for people who are here in Winchester, people from around the world who need to learn English," said executive director Mark Sieffert. 

Their office is busier than ever and they will be adding an additional night class for the first time. Aside from English learning, they also offer computer classes and adult basic education classes. 

"A couple of students came to us independently, both young men in their 20's, who recognized that they graduated high school not being able to read very well. Now that they're fathers, they've realized that they need the help," said Sieffert. 

Literacy Volunteers Winchester Area stresses the importance of having strong literacy skills if you are a parent. The National Bureau of Economic Research states that children of parents with low literacy have a 72% chance of being at the lowest reading level themselves. 

According to Pro Literacy, between 2009 and 2018 there was a 35% decrease in funding for adult education. Sieffert says they need volunteers now more than ever.  READ MORE >>

Portland

Literacy Council

Volunteer Tutors Help Portland Adults Navigate A World Full Of Written English

The Oregonian: 12.21.2018 by Lizzy Acker

When Sokunthea Bou, now 40, moved to Portland in 2003, at age 24, she didn’t speak or read any English.

She tells a story about walking into the wrong bathroom at Fred Meyer because she couldn’t read the “men” and “women” signs.

In a world where nearly everything is based on English, not speaking or reading it meant she was cut off. She felt like she couldn’t see, couldn’t hear and couldn’t move freely.

So in 2005, she started taking English as a second language at Portland Community College at night.

“The first day of school,” Bou says, “I just sat there and didn’t even understand any words.”

Not only were the sounds different from her native language of Khmer, but the alphabet also was different. Bou struggled, but didn’t want to give up.

A tutor coordinator connected Bou with Peggy Murphy, her former tutor and who is now the president of the Portland Literacy Council.

Portland Literacy Council trains adult literacy tutors who work in around 50 programs throughout Portland. Murphy estimates that metro-area volunteers serve between 300 and 500 adult learners each year.  READ MORE >>