Literacy Volunteers of Monmouth County is a non-profit organization of trained volunteers that is dedicated to providing one-to-one or small group tutoring to functionally illiterate adults, and to those for whom English is not their native language.

LV Monmouth provides an18-hour training to volunteers who provide direct instruction in basic literacy skills and conversational English. Tutors are matched with adult students who work collaboratively together to address the literacy needs of individual students in one-to-one venues or tutors are placed in ESL (English as a Second Language) classes to facilitate conversational English for non-native English speakers. Tutors and students agree to meet two days each week for a minimum of  one hour each time to work on the literacy needs of students.

Literacy Volunteers of Monmouth County uses a student-centered approach to teaching literacy to other adults where the student is the curriculum and the tutor focuses on the needs of the student. This does not mean that textbooks are never used, but being student-centered the tutor addresses the immediate and relevant literacy needs of the adult students.

Once trained, tutors meet their students in libraries, churches or public locations such as bookstores or coffee houses. LV Monmouth collaborates with many churches and organizations in Monmouth County to offer ESL classes to the immigrant population. Last year, more than 130 LV Monmouth volunteer tutors served 714 students from 38 different countries, providing over 4,300 hours of free tutoring services.

In order to become a volunteer tutor, a person must be 18 years of age or older and have graduated from high school. In addition, prospective volunteers must make a commitment to tutor an adult student twice a week for a minimum of one hour each time for the minimum of one year in order for the student to make progress. Tutors are supported by LV Monmouth through newsletters, workshops, in-service programs and the annual Literacy for Life Conference sponsored by Literacy Volunteers of New Jersey.

Literacy Volunteers of Monmouth County offers volunteer tutor-trainings six to seven times a year.

Persons interested in “changing a life through literacy” are welcome to contact the office by e-mailing [email protected] or calling 732-571-0209. More information about Literacy Volunteers of Monmouth County may be found by logging on to: www.lvmonmouthnj.org.

Is your parish, school or charitable agency in need of volunteers? Put out a call through The Monitor’s Faith In Action forum. Send all requests to [email protected].