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Our 100+ volunteer tutors are your friends, neighbors and relatives who are contributing to our community by helping others help themselves.

No prior teaching or tutoring experience is necessary. We will train you to become a literacy tutor to adults and we will support you after you have been matched with a learner who has shown the interest and initiative to enroll in our program. Check out our calendar for a complete list of training dates and locations.

Why Tutor?

By Nina Halebsky

There are so many reasons why tutoring is a rewarding experience.  First and foremost is the appreciation a student shows when they realize they are able to make progress toward their literacy goals.  How valuable it is for them to have a special relationship with someone who can focus with them on their specific learning needs.  Being patient, being available, being their ally is gratifying and a gift for both tutor and student.  It is a way of demonstrating that all people deserve getting the help they need.  If I can give back to someone in this way, I feel I have contributed to their sense of dignity and supported them to better themselves.

As a teacher who has worked with regular and special needs children for over 10 years, I now sometimes have the privilege of assisting adults who continue to need support.  Literacy barriers can be true obstacles for adults, but with the motivation to be productive, an adult student will approach literacy learning with an added sense of urgency and interest.  This makes the job of tutor especially valuable.

 Sharing a sense of accomplishment and providing encouragement for successes big and small keeps me motivated to continue.  Finally, I truly enjoy getting to know my students as people, and we look forward to spending time together.

How I Got Involved with Literacy Volunteers

By Joan B.

I tried going back to school many times but I felt that I was not learning the way I should.  I heard about the Literacy Volunteers of Albany.  I was paired up with a nice lady named Wendy.  She worked with me for many years.  We met at the library once a week and we read books.  This made me feel good about myself as I was getting the help I needed from her.  I felt that the Literacy program was a blessing from God.

Then I moved from Albany to Troy.  I was going to EOC and once again I felt like I needed help.  I asked the people in the office did they know about a literacy program over in Troy and they said yes, right up the street.  They gave me the number and I called and I was told to come in for a test.  I went in to take the test and met Marie.  She was very nice and she made me feel good about coming there and she started me on my way to the next step.  Then I met Kathy. 

We meet once a week at the library and we read and do worksheets.  She helps me with more than just reading; we bond, she listens to me, she cares about me and the job she is doing.  We have good communication and have a good time learning together.  She helps me build up my self esteem and confidence.  I think I could do anything that I set out to do.

I thank God for the program, the tutors and the people that care.