Adult Literacy in Livingston County: Irina Shares “My Dream Roof”
At the Livingston County Literacy Coalition, adult literacy learning looks different for every learner. Tutoring may include practicing English conversation, strengthening reading and writing skills, preparing for employment, or simply becoming more confident communicating in everyday life.
Sometimes, it also means finding the words to share a piece of yourself.
Irina Redkozubova has been learning alongside her parents, Viktor and Natalia, who work with LCLC volunteer tutor Joann Schmidt. Although Irina has lived in the United States for many years and already speaks and writes English well, she continues to participate in their tutoring sessions and says she benefits from them, too.
Recently, one of their homework assignments began with a Chat Pack conversation card:
“Flags at the top of government buildings, crosses on top of churches… If you had to put something on your roof to distinguish your house from the others, what would you put there?”
Irina chose to answer through writing.
Joann was so impressed by Irina’s story that she shared it with LCLC. We are sharing it in her own words, with Irina’s permission.
Adult Literacy in Livingston County Is About More Than Reading
Irina’s story is a wonderful reminder that literacy is about much more than vocabulary, grammar, or words on a page. Language gives us a way to share our experiences, cultures, ideas, hopes, and the things that are meaningful to us.
It is also an example of what can grow from the relationship between an adult learner and a volunteer tutor.
At LCLC, tutoring is personalized around each learner’s needs and goals. Conversations can become lessons. Interests can become writing prompts. As learners build skills and confidence, their goals can grow and change, too.
For Irina, one of those future goals may be employment. She has talked with Joann about potentially looking for a job, working on her resume, and exploring opportunities related to teaching.
We are grateful to Irina for allowing us to share her writing and to Joann and all of LCLC’s volunteer tutors who create opportunities for adults to continue learning, practicing, setting new goals, and sharing their voices.
Every learner has something to say. Sometimes they just need an opportunity to say it.
Learner Voices
Learner Voices is a Livingston County Literacy Coalition feature celebrating original writing and perspectives from adult learners in our community. Learner work is shared with permission and preserved in the learner’s own words.
Interested in adult literacy tutoring in Livingston County? LCLC provides free, personalized literacy support to adults who live or work in Livingston County. We also welcome volunteers who want to help adults reach their reading, writing, English-language, digital literacy, and other learning goals.
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