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Council Training Opened Door to New Career for Tutor

A desire to test out his wings as a teacher led Ashton Hopkins to volunteer as a tutor for Oakland Literacy Council while still a student at Oakland University. The son of an immigrant, Ashton specifically wanted to help other adults learn English as a second language.

Ashton tutored students from Poland and Mexico for the Oakland Literacy Council before moving to South Korea.

Although Ashton’s mother had come to the United States in the 1970s from South Korea, she had worked so hard to learn English before he was born that Ashton never guessed she wasn’t a native speaker until she told him years later. “Her experience made me realize the dedication, uncertainty, and hardship people go through when they decide to or are forced to live in another country,” Ashton recalls.

With a bachelor’s degree in communications, Ashton already understood the importance of interpersonal and professional communication skills. The Council trained him to give those skills to English language learners. “The training at the OLC gave me a sound foundation,” Ashton says. “Along with the beginning orientation and supplied materials, the OLC offers many workshops. I was able to attend and learn firsthand from veteran ESL teachers about different methods of teaching and given many resources to create new activities for students. Before joining the OLC, I took a class to receive a TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) certification, and I can say nothing prepares you more for teaching than learning from veteran teachers and firsthand experience. The resources, training and experience through the OLC prepared me to tutor just as much, if not more, to assist student learning than my paid 100-hour TEFL class.”

After his training, Ashton was matched with a student from Poland, and later he took on a student from Mexico, too. “My proudest moments as a tutor were when I could sense that a student gained a little confidence,” he says. “The perseverance of students is very admirable.”

“Tutoring helped me gain experience teaching to different levels of English proficiency,” Ashton says, a skill he uses now in South Korea.

In addition to tutoring, Ashton facilitated a conversation group for English language learners. He found it “very interesting—and sometimes very humorous” to help the group members understand each other and share their interests and opinions.

Tutoring for the Council convinced Ashton he had some teaching chops after all. His next step was to go abroad in the fall of 2018—to his mother’s homeland, South Korea—to teach English to schoolchildren. “Being a tutor helped me get firsthand experience in planning a lesson and then totally adjusting it or changing it based on what problems might arise or when you see a teachable moment developing,” Ashton says. “Tutoring also helped me gain experience teaching to different levels of English proficiency.”

At the same time Ashton’s teaching Koreans to learn English, he’s making every effort to learn Korean. In fact, he says, his next step is to apply to graduate school in South Korea.

Meet other 35 Faces of Literacy

Check out these articles about Oakland Literacy Council!

The Joy of Being a Literacy Tutor
Read between the ‘lions’
Give a little, give a lot
Seeking volunteer tutors

The Oakland Literacy Council is a not-for-profit 501(c)3 tax-exempt entity that relies on the financial support of individuals, businesses, community organizations, and foundations to fulfill its mission. Your tax-deductible financial gift can be made online, by mail or by Donor-Advised Fund. The Oakland Literacy Council also welcomes gifts of Stock and Legacy Gifts.

In celebration of Oakland Literacy Council’s 35th anniversary, we’ve invited students, former students, tutors, donors, and other advocates to share their stories. Read all of their stories here.

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Oakland Literacy Council
Oakland Literacy Council
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Lesley TauroLesley Tauro
12:43 05 Sep 24
I love being a English Tutor with Oakland Literacy Council on a one-on-one basis as well as for a conversation group. Through OLC, I have had the opportunity to meet so many incredible people, many who have become friends.
Cynthia WersteinCynthia Werstein
23:48 04 Sep 24
I have enjoyed my ESL tutoring with Oakland Literacy Council. We received training to help us, help our students. I feel like I can reach out for additional help if needed. Not to forget, they offer outside activities, on occasion, so that the students and tutors can do some typical, but fun activities! OLC is a great organization to volunteer with.
Lisa BurnsLisa Burns
21:33 04 Sep 24
I've been volunteering with the OLC for about a year and a half, and it's been a great experience! I very much enjoy the tutoring sessions with the student whom they paired me with. She is a lovely person and I've learned a lot from her too. OLC makes tutoring easy for volunteers, with an easy-to-use curriculum, training, support, and social events. Highly recommend!
Qambar Ali SarwariQambar Ali Sarwari
19:50 04 Sep 24
Great team, motivational atmosphere, Thank you for your always support and help, especially the refresher training you provide to the tutors.Warm regards ,Ali
Brad RothBrad Roth
19:07 04 Sep 24
When I retired in 2020 (in the middle of the covid pandemic) I wanted to find ways to volunteer. As a former college professor, I am particularly concerned about education and literacy. Working with Oakland Literacy Council has been a wonderful experience for me. The staff at OLC (particularly Laurie Weeks) is so helpful and appreciative. I've gotten more hand-written thank you notes from Laurie in the last four years than from everyone else throughout the rest of my life combined. Volunteering for OLC lets me give back to society but enjoy retirement too. I highly recommend it.
Kelly TurnerKelly Turner
11:12 23 Aug 24
I would like to say How amazing Oakland literacy Council is I came in May To Continue my education and I thank god I found them they where at the bottom of the list when they should have been at the top of the list first off the staff is amazing they did everything by the book I did placement testing to figure out where to place me they took the time out to get the best tutors they also called and checked in on me and also motivated me to keep going and never give up they gave me the option to go online for tutoring or in person Stewart my tutor was amazing he took pride in educating me and never made me feel like I was bothering him patricia was amazing she stayed on me and stayed consistent they made me feel like familythe icing on the cake was how they acknowledged me on graduation day the whole team was there for me and my family and I was so happy and me and my kid's could feel the love it's nothing that I would not do for Oakland literacy I will be there spokesperson for life cause it's worth it and they have top notch tutors employees and the online tutor services is Phenomenal if you're seeking to continue your education look no more this is the place to go
Sanghee HanSanghee Han
11:59 22 Aug 24
I was so lucky to meet oakland literacy Council. Since OLC has been a great institute for me almost 2 years. And they helped my english improve and give me some good talking classes for learning new culture here as well. Now that I graduated from a reading program at OLC, I feel like I'm still with them. Really appreciate it.
BAIYANG LAIBAIYANG LAI
19:36 15 Aug 24
In the past three years I learned English with Oakland Literacy. I met quite a few tutors in one by one tutoring and some conversation groups. Those tutors were so incredible and awesome! They really really helped me a lot in my English. My gratitude to all of them is beyond words!
jung min sonjung min son
17:36 15 Aug 24
Thank you for having me with your excellent support.. I really enjoyed learning English and having conversation class with others. I made some good friends and I think Oakland Literacy Council is very good for people who need English support 👏 👍
Joseph Lee (Jo)Joseph Lee (Jo)
16:39 15 Aug 24
Oakland Literacy Council was a very good program for me as my second language. I evaluated my English ability through English listening and reading tests and matched my tutor accordingly. As a result, my English improved a lot. And most of all, it was free.
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OAKLAND LITERACY COUNCIL 51111 Woodward Ave., Suite 720, Pontiac, MI 48342

(248) 253-1617, info@oaklandliteracy.com

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