AUBURN – With the school season imminent, Literacy Volunteers-Androscoggin is launching its fall series of tutor training workshops.

Volunteers are needed in all program areas, including Knowledge as Power family literacy, basic literacy, prison literacy, English as a Second Language and English Conversation Partners. One-on-one tutoring is an effective way to help adults with literacy needs meet their goals, as ESL student Africa Whittier can attest to.

Whittier arrived in the United States from Venezuela in 1999 and had a university degree in accounting already under her belt. However, she was unable to speak English. She said, “when I listened to people … I had no idea what they were trying to say … I felt like I was in China.”

As a result, despite her high level of education, her only option for working was in one of the factories in Auburn. However, Whittier was determined to improve her employment opportunities and use her degree, so she went to Literacy Volunteers and applied for one-on-one tutoring in English as a Second Language.

After working with her tutor, Ray Driscoll, for the past three years, she has improved her employment status – first working in the St. Mary’s Regional Medical Center cafeteria, and now at Peoples Heritage Bank.

Driscoll said, “She’s worked very hard to get where she is right now.”

Whittier is one of many who have met their goals with the help of a Literacy Volunteers tutor. For those who like to “dip their toe in the water” and explore the possibility of becoming a tutor, LV will hold an informational meeting from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 4, at the Great Falls School. To register call 753-1772.