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SUCCESS STORIES
SHERRY,
STUDENT
" Being in this program my reading confidence went from a 0% to 100%. With my confidence I was able to advance at my job by taking a test which used to terrify me. Now I read to my nephews and I enjoy reading to myself. I feel good - no more hiding! "
LEONIE,
STUDENT
" My experience with LAB has been very good. Joining LAB opened my eyes to a lot of things. Since coming to LAB, I can and fill out forms, especially when I travel on a plane to visit my family. I am proud of how far I have come and feel good about myself. I am grateful and thankful to my teachers. I would encourage every young person who wants to learn to read and write to join this program."
EDITA,
STUDENT
“ I am very grateful for the LAB program, because I can continue to improve my English and help to grow my business. Thanks to the LAB program and to my teacher Mr. Dan for taking the time to help me with my English, and for helping the immigrant people to have more opportunities in this country.”
KAREN,
TUTOR
" My student is Peter, an extremely motivated and conscientious 80 year old! He is an absolute delight. Peter's reading is really fluent and so far he is not showing any problems with comprehension. "
PHYLLIS,
TUTOR
" Volunteering with LAB has been very rewarding. The students are motivated and hard-working, and the volunteer staff is supportive and appreciative -- an amazing level of dedication. I really enjoy working one-on-one with our students and seeing their progress. I am convinced that this program makes a difference i n the lives of many Brevard County adults."
EDITA,
STUDENT
“ I am very grateful for the LAB program, because I can continue to improve my English and help to grow my business. Thanks to the LAB program and to my teacher Mr. Dan for taking the time to help me with my English, and for helping the immigrant people to have more opportunities in this country.”
LAB VOLUNTEER Talking about REINA, STUDENT
" Reina, from Guatemala's goal is to grow her own cleaning business. She utilizes every opportunity in Brevard to become assimilated to our country. She leaves no stone unturned to insure her own future. "
DAN,
TUTOR
" I have benefited from generous educational opportunities during my life. I find tutoring with LAB is an effective way to give back. I think the one on one relationship is rewarding for both student and tutor.”
MY STUDENT’S STORY
I am a volunteer tutor of an intelligent, observant, generous and inciteful 51-year-old man.
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My learner has shared with me the many strategies he has employed to navigate his world without understanding how to read. He can rapidly interpret a job application using text-to-this skill to prevent himself from falling behind in his work and his private life. Though his achievements are impressive, the toll is exhaustion, as his brain must work overtime to compensate for his lack of understanding the printed word.
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Since starting his tutoring sessions with me at LAB, my learner reports that he is beginning to recognize the print word around him. Signs, forms, documents, menus, and even text messages that he previously ignored are now becoming meaningful texts with which he can now engage.
Such progress encourages both of us as we work and learn together, staying focused on achieving his personal goal of better engaging with the world around him.
Beth Ann
IN THE WORDS OF A STUDENT
I wanted to move to the United States because I felt my daughter and I would have better schooling and better opportunities here. Help with going over words, and someone who is patient with me. To me, this makes a lot of difference.
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At first I didn’t know how to put sounds together. I can tell it’s helping me put words together. It’s very good. I encourage someone who can’t read to try LAB. I appreciate LAB. They buy my books and I appreciate my teacher coming to help me
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I chose LAB by going online for places to help me learn to read and I began working with LAB. I like that I can work one-on-one with somebody instead of in a large group. I get personal attention.
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​I hope this will help someone who may not be sure about participating. I work with someone who doesn’t even know her ABC’s and I am encouraging her to come here for help.
Vivienne
MY STUDENT’S STORY
My English learner had three goals. One: to understand English and its grammar so that she could speak it with ease. She also wanted to increase her vocabulary and understanding of syntax. Anna has met her first goal: able to understand English and its grammar so that she can speak with ease. We continue to work on her second goal as we pursue her third goal: Understand American History and how it relates to America’s present. For that reason, we have begun reading an American History textbook, using it to further study syntax and vocabulary.
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Working with an English language learner is a gratifying experience. My student is one of the most diligent, hard-working, and resolute people I know, and to watch her improve her English Skills and her self-confidence is a true gift. We’ve become good friends over the past two years, and her English has improved dramatically. In fact, she is currently teaching me Mandarin, a task that has made me realize the extreme dedication and effort it takes to master a new language as an adult.
Jackie
IN THE WORDS OF A STUDENT
I came to the USA from Ukraine almost 2 years ago. In the first months, I felt the problems in communication at my job, especially in listening and speaking.
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Literacy for Adults in Brevard and my tutor helped me develop my skills in writing, readding and speaking. The lessons and support of my tutor helped me create many goals and achieve them. My tutor also helped me orient myself in the U.S. to many things: insurance, medicine, taxes, job, and travel. We together researched a lot of useful material and information.
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Now I feel myself comfortable in my living in the US and I am very thankful for LAB and my tutor for all I have learned.
Natalia
IN THE WORDS OF A VETERAN TUTOR
My newest LAB learner cannot read at all, even though English is his primary language. He was never taught the sound of the letters. He wants to learn to read to get a driver’s license and a job.
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Adults sign up for tutoring with Literacy for Adults in Brevard (LAB) for several reasons. Many of the adults I have tutored through LAB have indicated they need to read better to get a job or be promoted at their current job. Because of their poor reading skills, the only jobs available to many of them are minimum wage jobs. One young man had been homeschooled, and wanted to prepare for the GED test, to get a job. A young lady had received a Special Education High School Diploma in Titusville. She was being asked by her employer to take a State test to become certified in her field and so applied for lessons through LAB. Another learner completed eight years of public school in Titusville but was unable to read as she was not taught the sounds of the letters of the alphabet. An English-speaking gentleman was not taught to read in his home country. He wanted to learn to read to get his driver’s license and a job. I have found it immensely satisfying tutoring adults through LAB.
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By applying with LAB, these adults have demonstrated an eagerness to learn how to read. But it takes a commitment from both the tutor and the learner to meet at a minimum of once a week for an hour and a half. If learners are willing to meet longer or more often, I have always extended lesson hours to help them reach their goals.
Kay