 | | WLC Learner: Peter Yell |
I would like to introduce learner Peter Yell and his tutor Tracy Ouellette. Peter is a refugee from Sudan. He was unable to attend school in his homeland because the nearest school was inaccessible from his village. Then at the age of 14 he was kidnapped and forced to fight in his country's civil war. Peter has lived in the US for nearly two decades. His goal when I interviewed him last year was to improve his job prospects. The following are honest responses from both Peter and WLC volunteer, Tracy Ouellette, about the challenges and joys of tutoring.
Learner: Peter Yell
1. What motivated you to contact us?
I can't do nothing without reading or writing, can't even find a job. Friend from church is the one who helped me with this. I tried before even at the technical college but it wasn't helping me. I was just in speaking classes, group of people. It was not what I was looking for - writing and reading.
2. What are you currently working on with your tutor?
Reading and writing and spelling.
3. What goals have you accomplished and/or plan to accomplish in working with your tutor?
I can read a little bit. At work I can read an order now, now I can pick it up and know what to do with it. I can put a label, can write my own label now. Some homework from my son I can read.
4. What do you want to be doing 10 years from now?
I hope to get an education. Get me a better job because I have education. Something where I don't have to lift.
5. Why is the literacy council important to you and the community?
Help me or help others who don't know how to read like me.
6. What advice would you give other adults seeking literacy support?
Well I would encourage others if you need to read and write .... Also one on one teacher is helpful. And it is free too.
Tutor: Tracy Ouellette
1. What have been some of the most challenging and rewarding aspects about being a tutor?
Challenging - just getting started. It is intimidating when you don't have any teaching experience, and it is hard to know where to start, especially at first when you are just getting to know the learner. It is much easier once you get started and feel like you have a path to follow.
Rewarding - when Peter calls me teacher that is really special to me, that makes me feel like I am really helping. I can see progress every week and I really enjoy when he brings me things from home to help with, that feels like I am really helping him with some meaningful real life skills.
2. Why is the literacy council important to you and the community?
People who can read can access resources in the community such as health care, education, job training, and school activities for their children, legal help, etc. If people can't read it is harder for them to access resources and be independent, and they rely more on help from the government or other people. People want to be able to help themselves and continue to grow and learn throughout their lives.
3. What advice would you give someone who is just starting the tutoring process?
Just do it! Once you get to know your learner it will get easier to set goals, to understand what they need, how fast they learn new skills. I would definitely make sure to ask the learner regularly what they want or need to be working on for work or other life activities, because it helps the tutor and learner to have concrete goals and progress. And it is OK to be flexible, to work on things that come up or seem interesting even if they aren't part of a workbook or your planned pathway. | 
