Literacy Dupage

Program Overview

Literacy DuPage provides accessible and customized tutoring in reading, writing, speaking and understanding English to help adult learners achieve independence. The program offers a unique education service to both ABE and ESL adult learners in DuPage County who have barriers in getting to or improving in a classroom. Targeted learners are those 18 years and older, with ABE skills less than 9th grade, or ESL skills less than Student Performance Level 7, and who have difficulty accessing classroom instruction due to transportation obstacles, work schedules, lack of childcare or the inability to succeed in a classroom setting.

The program provides complete accessibility for primarily one-to-one or small group instruction at any location necessary for the student, including the home. The program also provides flexibility, with tutoring any time seven days and evenings a week. Tutoring in ESL or ABE is offered for two hours a week, for an average of twelve to eighteen months. Enrollment is open throughout the year.

All instruction is customized for each student, emphasizing the development of language skills needed to effectively function in life skill areas such as worker, family member, or community resident. Practical lesson materials can be a job application form, telephone directory, prescription label, making a doctor's appointment, etc. Tutors may also use computers at the libraries as teaching tools. Learner progress is measured through an individual meeting with the program staff after 35 hours of instruction with: 1) standardized testing (TABE for ABE, and BEST-Plus for ESL students), and 2) documentation of new life skills and qualitative data is collected showing impact for the learner and their family.

Supplemental practice for adult learners is also offered by trained tutors at ten bi-weekly English Conversation Groups at the Addison, Bensenville, Bloomingdale, Carol Stream Glen Ellyn, Indian Prairie (Darien), Lisle, Naper Blvd. (Naperville), W. Chicago and Westmont libraries.

The program recruits and trains volunteers who attend one of the 18-hour tutor training workshop series offered twelve times a year in various libraries or other locations throughout the county. Ongoing support is provided for students and tutors including personal tutoring-site meetings, phone contact and/or email, quarterly in-service workshops and newsletters, website resources, and an annual recognition event to celebrate student achievement and to honor volunteers.

Customized lesson plans are based on the learner's specific personal goals and needs. The tutors are encouraged to use authentic material supported with carefully chosen text resources. The material and resource needs for each student or small group are evaluated when they start the lessons and after every 35 hours of lesson time when their progress is assessed.

Our program served nearly 500 adult learners last year through 400 volunteers who generously gave over 25,000 hours of their time.