Students for our programs must be adults (over 18).  For those in the Basic Reading Program, usually something traumatic has happened in their lives to bring them to Literacy Volunteers.  Examples include loss of loved one, divorce, loss of job, loss of enabler (someone who helps hide their illiteracy). 

As the economy of this area changes from Coal Mining/Industrial to service/professional/technical, with the changes in welfare requirements, and with increasing demand for literacy in licensure (Commercial Drivers License, contractor’s license, etc.) there will be an increasing demand for literacy in the workforce.  No longer may those who are functionally illiterate expect to still have a reasonably comfortable lifestyle.

            Each Basic Reading adult learner situation is different.  Many potential adult learners are afraid of schools and teachers because they had a bad experience.  In general, students have very low self-esteem—we try to help them to believe they can do better and that they are important.  They have usually quit everything else in life.  They have started but due to a lack of motivation, have not finished.  Students generally have poor time management skills and sometimes making an appointment is a goal in and of itself.

For students in our ESL programs, the situation is generally that they have come from a situation where they may have received formal reading and writing training in English but are not fluent enough in spoken English to operate in our monolingual society on a day-to-day basis. They generally have accompanied a spouse who is either a student or new faculty at WVU and are participating in the University’s Intensive English Program – which is not open to family members. Our tutors work with them to develop the language and cultural skills required to live in American society. Generally progress is excellent, and the average length of time an ESL student needs our assistance is 2 years. 

      We also offer basic computer skills classes to help those who do not know the basic skills to operate a computer.