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The Family Literacy Center offers free and confidential, one-to-one help for adults who want to read, write, spell, or speak English better.
Tutoring is available at flexible times and locations and is based on the student's goals.
Adult Literacy Program
Student should...
- Live or work in Lapeer County.
- Be at least 17 years old.
- Want to read better.
- Agree to meet in a public place like our office or the library. No meeting in private homes.
- Be able to get to the tutoring site without assistance from the Family Literacy Center or the tutor.
- Be able to attend to tasks for at least 30 minutes.
- Be willing to attend weekly sessions of at least 1 hour per week year-round.
- Demonstrate appropriate behavior at the initial interview:
- appropriate personal hygiene
- appropriate language
- positive behavior pattern
Who is the adult who struggles with reading?
- Comes from all types of background and can be found everywhere
- Becomes easily trapped in old, destructive patterns
- Often has poor self-concept and low self-esteem
- Can become isolated, hidden and a prisoner to a rigid, patterned life
- Often intelligent and creative, often learns in non-traditional ways
- Can become resentful, angry, and defensive
- Often has highly developed "common" sense
- Lets others take over, has little or no personal power or authority
Why don't they "fix" it?
- Fear of failure
- Fear of ridicule and embarrassment if their "secret" is discovered
- Fear of losing job (if the boss or another employee finds out)
- Fear of failing in a group or classroom environment
- Doesn't know help is available
- Doesn't know where to get help
- Inconvenient class times and locations
- Thinks they are "doing ok" the way things are
- Thinks they are too old to learn
- Have become very good at putting other people's needs first
- Don't have money for transportation, gas, babysitter, books, lessons, etc.
- There may be family pressure to hide the problem
- Change can be difficult and frightening
What challenges do people with limited literacy skills face?
- Cannot fill out forms or read contracts
- Often the victim of fraud or bad financial decisions
- Cannon read medicine bottles or directions
- Cannot use the telephone book, menus, or recipes
- Cannot advance at work, may lose their job during cutbacks or slowdowns
- May have trouble getting or keeping a job
- Cannot read to children or help with homework
- Unable to be fully active in the community
- May constantly feel overwhelmed and inadequate
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