English tutoring gives graduate “confidence and certainty” to resume her engineering career

Oakland Literacy Council graduate Asuncion is grateful for “having a person who taught only me.”

Recent OLC graduate Asuncion was a process engineer in Mexico. Now she’s ready to resume her profession in the U.S.

Once Asuncion began meeting with a tutor, her reading skills grew quickly but she struggled with listening. In 2021, she even asked for a two-month break from tutoring when she became frustrated after a disappointing test result.

However, with the help of tutor Michele Dragisity, Asuncion persevered and she graduated in March! Asuncion currently works at Marshall’s retail store but is now taking steps to find a job as a production/manufacturing supervisor or process engineer.

Asuncion shared her experience:

“When I arrived in to USA, my friends told me that OLC could help me learn English, they would provide me a tutor to practice, and they told me that OLC was one of the best institutions for adults to learn English, that is why I decided to enter OLC.

OLC was the best school for me because from the beginning they gave me a tutor, it was wonderful for me, with the fact of having a person who taught me only me, this gave me the confidence and certainty that I could do it without fear of people make fun of me for making mistakes, That’s how they helped me learn not only English but also American culture and customs.

My goal is to develop myself in the work environment as an engineer, of course I have the knowledge, but I want to prove to myself that I can work as an engineer in a foreign country and with a different language.”

Asuncion has updated her resume and is beginning her job search. OLC has connected Asuncion with the Troy Michigan Works! office where she can get assistance connecting with employers. Congratulations, Asuncion and Michele!

Lesley Tauro

9 months ago

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 Werstein

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 Burns

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 Sarwari

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 Roth

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 Turner

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 Han

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 LAI

10 months ago

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 son

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)

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.