I became a volunteer tutor for Literacy Network Northern Beaches in 2016. As a retiree, I wanted to feel connected to the local community, share my professional and personal experiences, and find a new sense of purpose. The six weeks of training provided by Literacy Network’s experienced coordinators gave me confidence in this new role.
Over the next nine years, I assisted six students who had come to Australia from Tibet, China and Brazil. Being a migrant myself, I empathise with my students’ frustration regarding language difficulties, and the challenges of acquiring and/or rebuilding their careers.
Tutoring not only allows me to help students improve their literacy and numeracy in English, but also to develop their ability to overcome various obstacles to social inclusion. This includes discussing the intricacies of Australian culture, institutions, education, geography, nature, and more. In turn, I meet new people and learn a lot of interesting facts about their cultures, so I always look forward to our weekly tutorials.
Informal and flexible one-on-one tutoring allows us to structure sessions to suit the student’s abilities, interests and other commitments. It also builds mutual familiarity and trust. It is very satisfying to witness the growing linguistic confidence of my students and to hear about their personal and professional successes.
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