What are you waiting for? Help a neighbor learn English now!

One hundred and thirty-three adults with limited English or low literacy skills are waiting for a tutor like you right now. Those adults are the parents of 94 children under the age of 12. Children of parents with low literacy skills have a 72 percent chance of being at the lowest reading levels themselves. If you can volunteer two hours per week, you can make a difference.

You will make a positive impact someone else's life, and on the lives of their children.

Adults who are tutored learn to be more involved in their children's education, communicate better at work, read to their children in English, become naturalized citizens, and become more productive members of the community.

The Literacy Connection volunteer tutor training will be held on Saturdays, July 23 and 30, from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Gail Borden Public Library, 270 N. Grove Ave. in Elgin. On July 23, the first hour will be an introduction to the volunteer tutoring program, and the remaining time is the training. Come learn about the program for free, and stay if you are interested. There is a $25 charge for the training, background check, and tutoring strategies book.

Registration is recommended. Please call The Literacy Connection at (847) 742-6565, email info@elginliteracy.org, or visit www.elginliteracy.org to learn more about the organization or to register for the training workshop.

The Literacy Connection serves 16 northwest suburban Chicago communities including Algonquin, Bartlett, Carpentersville, Cary, Elgin, South Elgin, East Dundee, West Dundee, Gilberts, Hanover Park, Hampshire, Hoffman Estates, Huntley, Lake in the Hills, Streamwood, and Schaumburg. The agency provides customized one-on-one adult tutoring, English conversation groups, and family literacy programs. Follow www.facebook.com/literacyconnection/.