2022 Thank you Dee Why RSL
We are indebted to Dee Why RSL for granting us assistance to continue our work. It will be well spent within our program to assist those within our community who have trouble reading, writing and speaking English. Thank you.
2022, Thank you Northern Beaches Council
We have received a Northern Beaches Council grant to assist with the running of our Litnet programs for 2022. This includes funding to run two ZOOM sessions for people to become familiar with the software and the methodology it allows. Already a few of our tutors are helping students to download the app, use the…
2021, Presidents Report
This report covers the activities of Literacy Network Manly-Warringah for the period 1 July 2020 to 30 June 2021. Once again we have built on our solid past experience and strong community connections to deliver our unique service to students through our team of volunteers despite the changes caused by Covid-19. Our students have continued…
2021, Coordinator’s Report
Covid-19 continues to impact our work and ability for our tutors and students to meet face to face. As we write this report all of Sydney is in yet another lockdown. We have continued to stay in touch with each of our tutors who in turn are using often creative ways to stay connected with…
2021, Lost for Words puts a human face to literacy learners
Screening of the SBS series Lost For Words in September has put a human face to the barriers experienced by people who struggle with their reading and writing. The series generated lots of social media, and comments clearly reflected the surprise and empathy in the community around adult literacy. The series looks to have given…
2020, Well done Kalsang
Congratulations to my student, Kalsang, on becoming an Australian citizen. Kalsang’s journey to become an Australian citizen began nearly 16 years ago. From Lhasa he crossed the Himalayas, walking for 27 days to reach Nepal and the safety of India where he lived for 10 years before coming to Australia as a refugee. I first…
2020, Train as a volunteer tutor in March
Train as a volunteer tutor with Literacy Network, a community-based organisation with an office in Manly Vale. Work with an adult on a one-to-one basis for up to two hours a week to meet negotiated goals and improve English skills. Coordinators manage the program, interview potential learners and train tutors. They match learner and tutor…
2019, News from Reading Writing Hotline
Adult literacy specialists – an endangered species?? “Despite the fact that LLN is universally acknowledged as a vital underpinning skill for adults in all walks of life, it appears that qualified adult LLN teachers are becoming very hard to find. And even more worrying is the fact that to the best of our knowledge, specialist…
2019, Christmas gathering
The 6th December saw another successful Christmas gathering for Literacy Network when tutors and students met for lunch at Dee Why RSL – who hospitably provided us with a wonderful table with seating for many and tasty food for all. The get together was a little sad too, with a farewell to our wonderful student-teacher…
2019, A Journey from Tibet to Australia
Literacy Network was represented by Robyn Smith, (coordinator) and Lynsey Chandler (president) at the launch of the report on the Northern Beaches Tibetan Community Research Project. The project, was initiated by Maria Elena Chidzey, Manager of Multicultural Settlement Services at Community Northern Beaches Inc, an independent not-for-profit organisation, and carried out by Macquarie University and…
2019, Annual General Meeting
In early 2019 we were unable to continue using facilities at the Northern Beaches Community College premises at Brookvale. This caused much concern about our future as we searched to find a suitable alternative. But thanks to heroic efforts, the committee was successful in finding a new base for our operations at Manly Vale. We…
2019, Our second tutors meeting
At our new meeting hall in Manly Vale on 29th June, tutors met to catch up with friends from training, share ideas about tutoring and discuss useful materials. It was wonderful that Joan Giumelli was available to join us. One of our tutors, brought along seven bi-lingual readers, featuring interesting facts about Australian native animals…
2019, Volunteers Expo
A big thank you to the Tutors from Literacy Network for representing us at the 2019 Volunteers Expo held at Dee Why RSL Club on 22nd May.
2019, We really appreciate your feedback: what you did and how you did it
As a guide, attached are two sample tutor reports. They describe some of the activities learners complete and the tutor reports of their progress. 2019 Sample Tutor Comments a 2019 Sample Tutor Comments b
2019, Reading Writing Hotline’s 25th Anniversary
Sharing Reading Writing Hotline’s 25 Anniversary event, Joan Giumelli, Sue Matthews, Lynsey Chandler and Amanda McDougall attended on behalf of the Literacy Network. Pictured: Langi Taisia, Vanessa Iles and Michael Brown
2019, Thank you to our sponsors
Sponsors for Literacy Network include Dee Why RSL Club, Balgowlah RSL Memorial Club and Northern Beaches Council. We appreciate the continued support from the clubs and ask our students, volunteers and friends to support them and their excellent facilities. The money we receive enables us to purchase new student and tutor resources, update our computer…
2019, our first tutors’ meeting
At our first tutor meeting in Febuary 2019, ‘Reading To Learn’ was discussed through an AV presentation written for us by Liz Leighton, a past coordinator at Literacy Network. For the past 4 or so years she has been working at ACU, teaching academic literacy to international students . ‘Reading to learn has been used…
Why is English so difficult?
Many people learning English have trouble with the nuances of the language. There is one two- letter word that has more meanings than any other and that is ‘UP’. Look the word up in a dictionary and you will find the definition takes up almost a quarter of a page, and can add up to…
Many Nationalities
Over the years our membership has included people from many different backgrounds and nationalities. In May 2018 we have students who speak English, Persian/Farsi, Tibetan, Turkish/Kurd, Nepalese, Arabic, Iranian, Vietnamese, Chinese, Croatian and Portuguese.
2018 Tutor Training
At the beginning of May 2018 we completed an eight-week training session. We welcomed seven new tutors to the organisation. Our tutors specialise in teaching adults to read and write on a one-to-one basis. They focus on individual needs and work with the student to plan a relevant and interesting program. Sessions may take place…
2017 Christmas Lunch
The Literacy Network celebrated the successes of 2017 with a wonderful lunch together on Friday 1st December. To all who could not join us, Happy Christmas and a wonderful New Year.
Learning for Citizenship 2017
Literacy Network has been active for over 30 years on the Northern Beaches, working one-on-one with ESL students with permanent residence. Read the story of one Manly Vale resident.
New Training Course in October 2017
The next training course for volunteer English tutors will run on Tuesday mornings between 10 October and 28 November. There are vacancies on the waiting list for new students, too. Call 0405 313 986. Time: 10am – 12.30 pm each Tues morning for 8 weeks Place: Level 1, 14 William St Brookvale Email: [email protected]
End of year party 2017
Please join us to celebrate the end of another successful year for the Literacy Network Manly-Warringah and meet our wonderful volunteers. All members welcome to attend for lunch, a drink or just to catch up. Where: Dee Why RSL Club – in the upper area When: 1st December at 12 Noon
New sponsors for Literacy Network in 2017
A big THANK YOU to the following Clubs in our area that have agreed to provide financial assistance to the Literacy Network through the 2017 annual ClubGRANTS program. Balgowlah RSL Memorial Club Harbord Diggers of the Mounties Group Dee Why RSL