Volunteers needed to teach English to immigrants

The Dominican Literacy Center in Aurora needs new volunteers to help immigrant women learn English, and to prepare immigrants for the U.S. citizenship test.

Starting Sept. 8, free citizenship classes will meet from 6 to 8 p.m. on Mondays and Wednesdays and 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Classrooms are at St. Mary's parish center, 432 E. Downer Place in Aurora. Classes are held for 12 weeks in the fall and 12 weeks in the spring

Center director Sister Kathleen Ryan, OP, said four new volunteers, men or women, are needed to assist citizenship students. Contact Sr. Jane Ann Beckman, OP. at (630) 898-4636

Thirty new female volunteers are needed to tutor immigrant women in reading, writing and speaking English.

Each tutor works one-on-one with an individual student for 90 minutes weekly. Volunteers do not need to know a second language or have a background in education.

Training for volunteers will be held from 6 to 8:30 p.m. Aug. 19, 21, 26, 28 at the Center, 260 Vermont Ave. in Aurora.

ESL tutoring is held five days and three evenings each week.

Classes begin on Sept. 8, and continue to June. Contact Alison Brzezinski, (630) 898-4636.

Founded in 1994 in Aurora, the Dominican Literacy Center has helped more than 2,500 immigrant women hone their English reading, writing and speaking skills. Additionally, the center has prepared more than 1,500 immigrant men and women to attain citizenship.