Literacy Volunteers Sought for West St. Louis County

Know anyone who loves to talk, read and write English? Community Education Adult Education and Literacy program representatives seek volunteers to work with adults who are studying basic English skills or whose native language is not English. Volunteers also are needed to assist students who are studying for the high school equivalency examination. 

New in the literacy lineup this year will be independent citizenship/civics classes provided at separate times from the other classes. Last year, more citizenship elements were incorporated into the language classes. In this class, foreign students learn to read, write, and speak English to prepare for the U.S. Citizenship test.

An orientation workshop for literacy volunteer tutors will be held on Aug. 16 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the district's , Room D-100, 500 North Central in .

Last year, 58 volunteers assisted others through this Rockwood adult education program, for a total of 2,500 volunteer hours, said Rockwood's adult literacy coordinator Linda Techner.

"But each year, lives change and some volunteers can't continue. Turnover for volunteers is about half, so we're always looking for new volunteers because we go yearlong," said Techner.

Techner said some literacy programs are grammar-structured, but the Rockwood one is conversation-structured so participants and volunteers can practice skills directly. Volunteers are not required to be certified teachers.

She said Rockwood program participants now represent at least 20 different countries' languages outside of the United States. Students must be at least 17 years old.

All classes start the week of Aug. 20, except for the new citizenship/civics sessions. Fall citizenship classes begin the week of Sept. 4 and run through Dec. 14. There are no classes the week of Nov. 19. All classes are free.

Informational open houses for the citizenship classes will be held:

• Aug. 27 from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. at Calavary Fellowship Church in Fenton
• Aug. 28 from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. at St. John's Lutheran Church in Ellisville
• Aug. 30 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Daniel Boone Library in Ellisville

To volunteer for this literacy program, contact Linda Techner, or call 636-733-2162.

Class Locations

Rockwood Administrative Annex
Room D-100, 500 North Central, Eureka, 63025

Calvary Fellowship Church
Buchanan Building, Lower Level
1811 Smizer Station Road, Fenton 63026

Daniel Boone Library
300 Clarkson Road, Ellisville 63011

St. John, Cornerstone Center
15800 Manchester Road, Ellisville 63011

Crestview Middle School, Room 110
16025 Clayton Rd., Ellisville, MO 63011

Eureka High School, Room 295
4525 Highway 109, Eureka, MO 63025

Rockwood Summit High School, Room 110
1780 Hawkins Rd., Fenton, MO 63025