Tutor Stories: Kim Gerard

How long have you been a tutor?

Almost four years.

Why did you become a Literacy Volunteer?

I had seen information about the program at the library. I love to read and know people have struggled with it, so it seemed like a good way to get involved. And I was looking for a volunteer opportunity.

How many students have you worked with?

I have had five students thus far. Right now I have three students, including two students from Burma who came to St. Charles as part of a refugee resettlement project at Baker United Methodist Church.

What would you want other people to know about volunteering with LVFV?

A lot of people think you need to be able to speak another language, but you don't. You just need to be very flexible, for example, you may not follow your lesson plan completely. It's a lot of fun. I have learned a great deal from my students, about their cultures and their lives. I have also learned a lot about the English language that I never knew (based on the questions from my students). You don't have to be a teacher or have any teacher training; you just have to have the desire to help others.

Photo by Bob Gilmartin Photography