The Columbia Basin Alliance for Literacy (CBAL) is hosting free tutor training for Elk Valley residents. The three-day course will take place in October and give participants the chance to learn how to assist others in strengthening their literacy skills.
“Tutors definitely get some teaching skills, ways to figure out people’s needs, and strategies to be able to help people meet some of their goals,” said Leah Wilkie, Community Literacy Coordinator for CBAL. “Literacy skills really are those foundational skills that allow you to build on other knowledge. This is helping people to build those foundations so they can grow later on.”
The training is 14 hours in total and covers adult literacy training, as well as teaching English as a second language. Wilkie said with more and more immigrants in town who come from other language backgrounds, the ESL portion of the training is essential. She commented, “Along with training and settlement assistance, tutors are able to connect people with community resources.”
Training will take place at the CBAL office located in the Max Turyk School, with evening classes on October 10 and 12, along with a full day on the 13. As with all other programs CBAL offers, the tutor training is free.
Following the course, tutors will be qualified to work as volunteers for the Elk Valley CBAL office. There will be a few opportunities for paid tutor positions as well.
“Lots of people are really interested in helping people with their English language skills,” Wilkie remarked. “It’s a really fun opportunity. You get to know people really well, as well as come into contact with immigrants who have amazing life stories and have uprooted their lives to come to Canada, so that’s really rewarding.”
Anyone interested in signing up can contact Leah Wilkie at 250-423-3023, or lwilkie@sbal.org.