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Retired Engineer Helps Students Build English Literacy Skills for the Workplace

August 31, 2021

After retiring from a career in engineering, Phil Swisher didn’t sit still long. His passion for personal connection led him to extend his cheery demeanor to help others as an Oakland Literacy Council (OLC) volunteer tutor.

Since joining OLC, Phil has tutored three students, all who have immigrated to the U.S. from Korea. His two former students have both graduated from OLC’s program!

Phil’s students have shared a common goal – to improve their English in the workplace. But that goal has meant something different for each student, so Phil has tailored his approach to meet each student’s needs.

2020 graduate Jeongmun, who was working in logistics and product control, became more proficient speaking with customers on the phone. Phil helped Jeongmun expand her vocabulary by providing vocabulary lists, practicing reading and summarizing articles, and giving creative writing assignments, including poetry. 2021 graduate Jihyun wanted to improve his formal presentation skills to better show his company’s automotive products to potential customers. Phil and Jihyun spent hours on Zoom rehearsing the presentations. Phil’s current student, Kunwoo, wants to improve his English to socialize more comfortably with coworkers, so Phil and Kunwoo focus on informal conversation and American colloquialisms.

As a tutor, Phil consistently goes above and beyond by creating extensive and individualized lesson plans and unique exercises to help his students build language skills. He designs his lessons around each students’ competency level and goals. Phil keeps personalized binders for each of his students, which contain their lesson plans and pictures of their achievements upon graduating. Jeongmun noted that Phil clearly understood her comprehension level and was able to advise her with whatever she needed. Phil also makes a point of checking in with his students who have graduated.

Tea-ching Words of Wisdom

Phil uses a large swath of resources, including article databases provided by Oakland Literacy Council. His hallmark exercise involves a collection of tags from Salada tea bags. Each tea bag features “Words of Wisdom.”  At the end of each session, students pick a tea bag. These special messages advance students’ reading, listening, writing, and comprehension skills and have the added benefit of some sage advice! (Phil also compiles posters on the computer that feature his students’ favorite Salada Tea Words of Wisdom.)

Despite his obvious passion for teaching and glowing reviews from his students, Phil is incredibly humble about his role, often downplaying his talent as a tutor. Phil prefers to highlight his students’ hard work and notes that, “Students don’t realize how good their English is!” Additionally, he maintains an open-minded approach to teaching his students and appreciates the opportunity to learn from them in return.

Category: News

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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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