By Andrea Byrne
If you ask someone to name the most challenging element of moving to a new country, they will most likely say it is learning the language. Once you can communicate effectively, most other things fall into place.
Literacy Volunteers at Family Centers provides free, high-quality English language education to a vibrant global cohort of adult learners who are our neighbors in Greenwich, Stamford, and the surrounding Lower Fairfield County area. English classes enable them to acquire the skills and knowledge necessary to achieve personal and occupational goals. The program is committed to educating families, developing a more skilled workforce, and providing educational opportunities to those looking to improve their lives and integrate into the fabric of their communities.
The program relies on the services of trained volunteers who generously devote their time to this mission. The volunteer tutors are, themselves, a diverse body of individuals who come together as a community and tap into their personal and professional experiences as they teach classes. In helping students move toward greater English language proficiency, they also feel the satisfaction of giving.
Tutors will often say that they, too, are benefit from their students’ experiences, as they have a unique glimpse into the perspectives of individuals from around the world. Last year, our students hailed from 45 countries and spoke 21 languages. Tutors are often humbled by their students’ resilience as they have lived through wars, found ways to combat poverty, and risen to devote themselves to their work and their studies. And as they pursue pathways toward meaningful employment that can sustain an acceptable quality of life, they make the time to continue their learning and model this for their children.
We have had tutors that not only educate, but befriend their students. As students have shared, coming to a new country can be a lonely endeavor. Their classes and their tutors become a trusted and reliable source of companionship. The connections forged sometimes endure for years, and tutors then feel that sense of pride when the self-sufficiency for which students strive is realized.
In the words of one student, “I have learned many good things through English classes. I really like how my tutor presents the material. Her lessons are very interesting and informative. She sincerely talks to each student. Her classes are always fun, her smile makes you forget about fear and start talking. We are not afraid to make mistakes. She is an incredible person who helped me enrich my vocabulary and writing, but above all, I am much more confident. She has taught me to believe in myself.”
Literacy Volunteers classes are offered Monday through Thursday, both online and in person. The program is looking for additional tutors to serve the students currently on the waiting list. Please consider signing up to tutor as you, too, have the ability to change lives through literacy.
Andrea Byrne is the Manager of Literacy Volunteers at Family Centers. She is a lifetime educator who strives to ensure that all students have equitable learning experiences and believes that adult education with a focus on literacy is the way to close the opportunity gap and support self-sufficiency for adult learners at all levels. She is passionate about supporting adults and working closely on their career and educational goals to inspire them to be impactful members of the community. She believes that collaboration with agency and community partners paves the way to access essential resources and can lead to a successful pathway to independence. Andrea has held roles as an English teacher and special educator, literacy consultant, school and district-level administrator in domestic public and international school settings, and as a higher education adjunct instructor.
