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Volunteer
The Hillsborough Literacy Council is a nonprofit organization that depends on our volunteers for success! We have many opportunities for you to get involved.
Become a Tutor
Would you like to teach an adult to read? We have 40 people on the Adult Basic Literacy waiting list. Volunteers are trained to be tutors at a five hour training session. Then, you will be matched with a student. Tutors and students work together once or twice a week at the closest library branch using the Laubach Way to Reading Book Series until the student reaches a fifth grade reading level. Sometimes adult students join our program with no reading skills at all and sometimes their level is a little higher. Either way, every step you reach together will be a successful milestone!
Our English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) Program has over 200 adults waiting for a tutor. These students want to learn to speak English. Volunteers for this program are trained at a five hour session, and then they are matched with one student or a small group of students. Pairs and groups meet at any local library branch at a time that is convenient to both tutors and students. You do not have to speak another language to tutor in this program; in fact, it is best if you don’t speak your student’s language. That way, both of you are committed to using English to communicate. For this program, HLC uses the LifePrints: ESL for Adults Book Series. Many of our ESOL students are college graduates in their home countries, but because they cannot speak English, they are working as janitors or housekeepers. Your help teaching them English will change their lives.
We ask that volunteer tutors commit to our program for at least one year. Check the 2010 Calendar for upcoming training dates. Once you’ve picked a training date, fill out this Registration Form and return it to our office by email, mail, or fax.
Please note that registration forms for the New Tutor Training on August 21 must be received no later than Friday, August 13.
Lead a Conversation
Join a room full of conversation. Once a week, meet with a small group of adults who want to practice their English. Since you already know English, all you have to do is show up and start talking! Encourage your group to express their opinions and practice their language skills. If you’d like to meet people from all over the world, register as a Conversation Class Volunteer; if you’ve had experience teaching or tutoring before, sign up to be the Class Organizer.
Fall classes start August 23 and run through October 18 at most locations. See below for specific locations, times and dates.Bloomingdale
The class at the Bloomingdale Regional Public Library which will meet for 6 weeks on Tuesdays from noon to 1 p.m. beginning August 31 and ending October 5.New Tampa
The class at the New Tampa Regional Library will meet for 8 weeks on Mondays from 7 to 8 p.m. beginning August 23 and ending October 18. There will be one break in the session on September 6 for the Labor Day Holiday.North Tampa
The class at the North Tampa Branch Library will meet for 8 weeks on Mondays from 6 to 7:30 p.m. beginning August 23 and ending October 18. There will be one break in the session on September 6 for the Labor Day Holiday.Town ‘N Country (evening)
The evening class at the Town ‘N Country Regional Public Library will meet for 7 weeks on Tuesdays from 6:30 to 8 p.m. beginning August 31 and ending October 12.Town ‘N Country (morning)
The morning class at the Town ‘N Country Regional Public Library will meet for 8 weeks on Wednesdays from 11 a.m. to noon beginning August 25 and ending October 13.
Don’t Have Time to Volunteer?
Support the Literacy Council by becoming a Member. Your $25 annual membership dues help to cover the cost of training a tutor or supplying materials to our adult students. A $100 donation will cover the cost of 10 student books, and $1000 will pay for the entire student publication called Visions. Send a check made out to the Hillsborough Literacy Council:
Hillsborough Literacy Council
P.O. Box 4499
Tampa, FL 33677