In Their Words

Over the years, Literacy Corps college students have said:

"I didn't expect to love tutoring as much as I did. I didn't expect my learner to be prompt or even show up. But he did and he only missed one scheduled session due to the weather. So, I guess he liked my tutoring, too. I only wonder if he was expecting to."

"I knew being a volunteer would be an amazing experience, but I never could have imagined how great it would be. It was one of the most rewarding things I've ever done."

"There always seemed to be such a great feeling of satisfaction, of achievement, after each tutoring session. I will be on my way home, driving my car, and I'll think to myself, tonight really went well."

"Four years ago when I attended the Intermediate Unit for remedial help with my math skills, I did not know that illiteracy was a big problem for many people living in the United States. What does illiteracy have to do math? I will tell you. Illiteracy includes all of those who cannot function normally in society because they lack reading, writing, and math skills. Now I am a junior in college. This is a three-credit course where you get to help people learn the skills that they need to reach their goals. For two evenings each week during the semester I tutor other people who need and want a helping hand. The people that I have worked with are all from different backgrounds and are at different skill levels. I helped a man working on a fourth-grade math level learn to multiply double digit numbers, as well as helped a woman study for her college math exam. The thing that all of these people have in common is that they want to learn so that they can have a better life for themselves and their families. But the truly amazing thing about them is that they are not afraid to work hard and ask for help. I am glad that I get a chance to help someone the same way I was helped when I needed it."

"Although this problem (adult illiteracy) may seem overwhelming, it is not hopeless. There are people out there who care enough to try to improve the situation; I am one of these people. I have never learned more in a three credit course (the Literacy Corps course) and I doubt that I ever will."

"Tutoring is interesting. With speech pathology in my future, I thought this might be my only chance to teach someone academically, instead of medically. Both an education and a speech pathology career provide a rewarding feeling. Each opens the doors of communication to people who may not have been able to communicate that well before."

"With 55 percent of the student body in either the engineering or business colleges and with no undergraduate education major, this university is perhaps not a typical college in the Literacy Corps program. Though many of the tutors here are looking forward to working in science and industry after graduation, they are giving up some of their time now as contributors to the Literacy Corps program. These tutors work in various locations including the county prison and the Council of Spanish Speaking Organizations. As a tutor at the Council of Spanish Speaking Organizations, I was part of an effort to help Latino families with their adjustment to the English language. As a future teacher, this was a valuable experience for me and, hopefully, one in which my tutees benefited as well."

"This is the best course I've ever taken. It has changed my life. Every college student should have to take this course."

Penn State College of Education ©2000
Pennsylvania Literacy Corps
Institute for the Study of Adult Literacy
Dr. Sheila Sherow
208 Rackley Building
University Park, PA 16802
814-863-3777
sms20@psu.edu