John A. Logan College Literacy Program

Description

The JALC Adult Literacy Program provides volunteer tutors to work with adult learners on basic reading, writing, math, and English-as-a-second-language skills. Adult learners live in the community college district, are age 17 or older, are out of school, and have been identified as having a basic skills need through the use of the Test of Adult Basic Education (TABE) or the BEST Literacy Test. These tests are required by the program's funding agency, the Illinois Secretary of State Literacy Office.

The TABE measures reading/math skills of learners and the BEST Literacy Test measures reading and writing competency in English in a United States cultural context for English language learners.

Volunteer tutors complete an initial training of 15 hours and are also offered additional training and development opportunities throughout the year. Volunteers and learners use a variety of materials throughout the year such as textbooks, workbooks, newspapers, magazines, and other authentic reading materials in order to reach learners' various personal and professional goals. Tutors and learners meet at several different places in the community and also in the Adult Basic Education and GED classes at the community college.

Learners' and volunteers' progress is monitored by the assistant literacy coordinator, who also provides on-going guidance and support to the entire literacy team (learners, teachers, volunteers, coordinators and counselors).