A Tutor’s Adult Literacy Success Story
Maggie Cullman, one of our dedicated AACLC volunteer tutors, brings us this heartwarming account of two students—Rose and Lan—whose lives have been changed for the better through the work of AACLC.
My current student, Rose, is a married woman with grown children. Her story dates back to the US involvement in Vietnam. Rose’s father had worked for the Americans, and was imprisoned by the new regime after the Communist victory. Rose and her siblings were not permitted to attend school at all.
friendly, chatty, and full of smiles. Her spoken language is serviceable and she reads at Laubach level III. Because she had received no education in any language prior to our time together, teaching Rose reading skills without the benefit of a shared language has been a rewarding challenge.
My second student, Lan, came to me when she was in her early 20s. She’d had a good secondary education in Vietnam, and showed lots of enthusiasm and drive. The only thing she lacked was English skills. I consider myself fortunate to have been able to help provide her with the linguistic keys to get ahead. Less than 3 years after we began working together, she left me to attend Anne Arundel Community College–while still working full-time at the salon and becoming engaged to a charming young man. After graduating last spring, she’s already working on completing a four-year degree through the University of Maryland. It’s been exciting and extraordinarily meaningful for me to help these individuals achieve their potential. I’m most grateful for the opportunity to do it.
Volunteer Tutors are the lifeblood of our organization
If you are interested in supporting our organization by being a tutor, contact us today to learn about training and the exciting rewards of teaching adults to read. There are lots of ways to contact us:
- Use the Contact Form on our website,
- Call us at 410-269-4419
- Email our Program Director at programdirector@aaclc.org.
