Adult Literacy Services are FREE

Classes are held Monday through Thursday. Classes are offered mornings, afternoons, and evenings at 9 locations throughout the city. Individual tutoring occurs at a public location agreed upon by the tutor and student.

Services

Columbus Literacy Council recruits and trains hundreds of literacy volunteers each year to help tutor adults in the Columbus community who need to learn to read or increase their current reading level. These tutors may choose to work with either B/L (Basic Literacy) students or ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) learners. The tutoring is performed in one-to-one tutoring sessions or in classrooms led by certified teachers. All training follows standards established by our affiliated national literacy program, ProLiteracy Worldwide.

Adult Literacy Services

Basic Literacy

Basic literacy classes teach native speakers of English or adults from other countries where English is spoken who need to improve their literacy related skills of listening, speaking reading, writing, and math.

English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL)

English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL), sometimes called English as a Second Language (ESL), classes are taught to immigrants who need to learn English or improve their English language skills to live and work in America.

Workplace Literacy

Workplace Literacy is a program in which ESOL or Basic Literacy classes are taught to employees of area businesses. Classes are held at the employee's work site, and the instructor develops the curriculum by taking into consideration both the literacy needs of the employees as well as the requirements of their job. Employers pay a fee for this service. Classes are open only to employees of the business.

Computer Assisted Instruction

Students will use software that helps them learn basic literacy and language skills such as phonics, grammar, pronunciation, vocabulary, reading comprehension, listening and speaking, and basic math skills while at the same time learning valuable computer skills.

Types of Instruction

Classroom Instruction

Most students attend classes at CLC for a minimum of 4 hours per week. Classes are held onsite and at other locations throughout the city including libraries, churches, schools, and community organizations.

Basic literacy classes teach native speakers of English or adults from other countries where English is spoken who need to improve their literacy related skills of listening, speaking reading, writing, and math.

English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) classes are taught to immigrants who need to learn English or improve their English language skills to live and work in America.

Tutoring

Basic Literacy or ESOL students who want or need more individualized instruction participate in one-to-one or small group tutoring. Trained volunteer tutors work with an individual or a small group of four to five students onsite and at many public locations throughout the city to work on listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills. Some tutors work in the classroom as support staff for teachers.

Computer-Assisted Instruction

Students learn in a modern and well equipped computer lab. Free Internet instructional resources are available for students. The assistance of staff and volunteers is always available to students in the lab.