Adult Literacy Department

"Privacy, respect, and an opportunity to succeed!"

 The mission of Literacy  Volunteers of the Plainfield  Public Library is to develop  the literacy skills of adults with  minimum reading skills. Since  1992 we have served over  4,000 Plainfield adults,  providing instruction in Basic  English, Basic Math, ESOL (English for speakers of other languages) and Conversational English.

Life Skills programs are also offered to help those having problems with everyday coping skills, such as employability, job preparedness, consumerism, social skills, and civic/citizenship preparation. Our program is free to all adults, and our training is free for tutor volunteers.

Who Are Our Students?

Our students are men and women, most of whom work and have families. Many are U.S. citizens who attended local schools. Others have come to our country to achieve the American dream. Our clients have come from: Barbados, Brazil, Chile, China, Colombia, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Gambia, Ghana, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Japan, Korea, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Peru, Puerto Rico, Senegal, St. Kitts, St. Lucia, Trinidad and Uruguay. Some of our ESOL students have higher-level education and degrees from their homeland but lack the English skills necessary to obtain a position in their area of academic training.

What Have Our Students Accomplished?

Ours is a student-centered program: adult students determine their long-term goals, which are translated to literacy goals that can be attained over time. Most who continue in our program achieve their long-term goals as well as more immediate goals, which they decide upon along the way. One adult student felt confident enough to move out on her own and begin a new life.

Some common accomplishments include:

• Obtaining a New Jersey Drivers license
• Obtaining US citizenship
• Improved written and verbal communication skills

Take a look at some of our

Student Writings

Who Teaches Our Students?

Our adult students are taught by Tutor Volunteers.  These are men and women of all ages, backgrounds and academic levels, who receive training from certified master trainers. Literacy Volunteers of the Plainfield Public Library provides this training and materials at no charge.

Our tutors come to us with a strong desire to make a difference in someone else's life, and make long-term commitments to our program.To teach ESOL, it is not necessary to be able to speak another language.

You will learn the skills necessary to become a proficient tutor as part of our free tutor training workshops. Trained and certified literacy tutors are always needed.

Conversational English Classes Expand

With a growing number of ESOL students (128) on the waiting list for tutors, the Plainfield Public Library is reaching out to those in need by expanding its Conversational English classes. These classes are intended to help those who wish to improve their speaking skills in English.

The Library has offered a Saturday morning class for several years, and it is still open to new students every Saturday from 10:30 a.m. to 1:00pm. A Wednesday morning class from 10:00 a.m. to noon has also started. New evening classes have begun on Tuesdays from 7 to 8:30 p.m. and Wednesdays from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m The Conversational English Classes are open to everyone who would like to learn and practice English.

Pre-registration is not required for these classes. For more information or to sign up for a class, please call Stella Segura in the Literacy Office at 908-755-7998. Bilingual assistance is available.

Volunteering

If you would like to become a tutor volunteer, or if you know someone who would like to become a student, please contact the Literacy Office (see "At a Glance" box above for contact information).

Calendar of Training Dates

Literacy Volunteers of the Plainfield Public Library is an accredited member of ProLiteracy of America and an affiliate of Literacy Volunteers of New Jersey.

Profile: Stella Segura

Stella's story is remarkable. Although she is still a student, she is also the Plainfield Literacy program's ESOL Coordinator.

Stella, a resident of Dunellen, was visiting the library when she was informed about the free tutoring services offered by the Literacy Volunteers of the Plainfield Public Library. A native of Colombia, Stella was extremely interested in improving her limited English and signed on to take the free English classes.

In two years she accomplished her goal and now makes other Spanish-speaking students feel welcome. "I can identify with them because I was once in the same situation," says Stella. "My tutor not only taught me English, but she made me feel welcome and encouraged me to achieve my goal," said Stella.

"What I learned from her I can now pass on to others and it's a remarkable feeling to be able to help those who are struggling to learn English and adjust to new surroundings," she said.

Stella was described by her tutor as a "bright and fast learner who worked hard to improve her writing and speaking skills." She added that Stella felt very insecure with her English when she started, but she was determined, self-motivated and did very well.

"She even wrote an article for the student newsletter about her initial experiences in the United States, which included feelings of hesitancy in trying to communicate in English."

Stella feels that "everyone" should be able to read and write. "Immigrants and their families should be encouraged to learn English so they can communicate with the majority of those in the community."

"Stella is a great example to new tutors of the importance of their volunteer work," said Joseph Hugh Da Rold, Director of the Plainfield Public Library. "We are delighted to have her on our staff," he added.

Contact Us

If you would like to host a workshop or if you are an organization interested in learning more about Literacy Volunteers of the Plainfield Public Library, we are available to make a presentation or meet with you at a time convenient for you. Please contact the ESOL Coordinator, Stella Segura, at 908-757-1111, ext. 121.