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Tutor Helps Students Find their Voice

Stacey Peper’s humbling experience living abroad gave her motivation to use her English skills to help newcomers in this country learn the language.

“I know what it feels like to be alone in a foreign country and not be able to say the words to express thoughts and feelings,” she says. “You become voiceless.”

Stacey undertook special training to help a student with a learning disorder.

As a tutor for Oakland Literacy Council, Stacey has been helping students find their voice for the last eight years. Stacey goes above and beyond to make sure her students make progress in reading, writing, and speaking English.

Special training

After coming to Michigan, Stacey studied for and received a 12-credit TESL certificate (Teaching English as a Second language) from Oakland University. She then started volunteering with Oakland Literacy Council. Stacey’s first student, Lillian, was an immigrant from Iraq. Stacey tutored Lillian for a couple of years, but after seeing Lillian make little progress in reading English, Stacey wondered if Lillian had a learning disorder. At her own expense, Stacey underwent a 30-hour training in the Orton-Gillingham multi-sensory method aimed at teaching struggling readers. The approach worked with Lillian.

“The best moment with Lillian was when I felt the reading and writing part of her brain was waking up and getting curious after a long sleep,” Stacey says. Today, Lillian happily reads children’s books to her granddaughter.

Students Gain Independence

In addition to reading, Stacey helped Lillian with her listening and speaking skills. Stacey was proud of the day when Lillian told her she no longer feared meeting people. “She knew people would understand what she wanted to say,” Stacey says. “This boosted her confidence, and she discovered her voice.”

Stacey’s student, Kayla, had gone through Pontiac schools in special education learning to read and write but not comprehending the paragraphs she was reading very well. Stacey has helped Kayla with vocabulary so that she understands what she reads. Stacey has also helped Kayla become more independent. Together they studied the material that Kayla would face on the written test for a driver’s permit. Then Stacey connected Kayla with Oakland Literacy Council’s workforce development partner, Michigan Works! so Kayla could get her first job.

By trying to meet students where they’re at and help them achieve their goals, Stacey has become friends with the two women she tutors. “The reason I like tutoring so much is that my students are my best teachers. I learn as much from them as they do from me,” Stacey says. The latest lesson she learned came from Lillian. “She said, ‘It doesn’t matter if you are a doctor or a lawyer or have another career or job, when you are educated, good comes from your heart. That is a real education.’ I thought about that and I have to agree with her.”

 

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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