What is The Reading Program?
The Reading Program is a one-on-one tutoring service provided by the Santa Clara County Library District. The program helps adults improve their basic reading, writing, math, and computer skills. Each student is paired with a volunteer tutor. Together, they work on achieving the student’s educational, career, and personal life goals. Volunteer tutors can also assist you with your GED, TOEFL, American citizenship test, written driver’s license test, resume, job application, basic computer skills, and other areas that require literacy skills,
Can I be a student in The Reading Program?
Yes, you can be a student if you:
- Are 18 years old or older and not enrolled in high school.
- Read or write at an 8th grade level or lower, and are able to understand and communicate in English.
- Are willing to meet with your tutor 2 hours a week for at least 6 months.
- Live in Campbell, Cupertino, Los Altos, Los Altos Hills, Milpitas, Saratoga, Monte Sereno, Morgan Hill, Gilroy, or the unincorporated areas of Santa Clara County.
How much does it cost to join The Reading Program?
The Reading Program is a free service.
Who are the tutors?
The tutors are volunteers who are 18 years or older. They are people from different backgrounds, ethnicity, and jobs. Not all of the tutors are native English speakers or retired/working teachers, but they are all trained by the Literacy Specialists.
Do I need to get books for tutoring?
Books will be provided by the Literacy Specialists.
NOTE: Books sent by the Literacy Specialists belong to the student, and are to be kept by the student even after the tutoring pair has dissolved.
Can I cancel a tutoring session?
Yes, but we ask that you call your tutor at least 24 hours before your scheduled meeting. If you cannot get in contact with your tutor, please contact your Literacy Specialist.
NOTE: If you do not show up to your tutoring session without a notice three times, you might lose your tutor.
How important is it for me to be on time for my tutoring sessions?
It is very important that you are on time for all of your tutoring sessions. We ask students to be respectful of the tutors and their time.
I do not need help in improving my reading and writing skills. Can I ask my tutor to focus on my listening and speaking skills?
If you want to work only on your listening and speaking skills, the Reading Program might not be the best program for you. Instead, we encourage you to join the ESL Conversation Clubs available at our libraries. Please click here for more information.
Can I stay in the program for more than 6 months?
Of course! We would love to have you for more than 6 months. You can stay as a student for the Reading Program as long as you need. However, we cannot guarantee that you will be able to continue with the same tutor.
I do not think I can stay in the program for 6 months. What can I do?
If you cannot commit to 6 months, contact the Literacy Specialists to discuss other options.
Can I bring my children to tutoring?
We do not recommend bringing children younger than 7 years old. If they are older than 7 years old, you can ask your tutor if it is okay to bring your children to a tutoring session. However, please know that if you decide to bring your children to tutoring, you will be responsible for keeping track of them and making sure that they are safe.
I take vacations or travel every few months. Can I still get a tutor?
Yes. Everyone needs a break occasionally! However, please make sure to contact your Literacy Specialists because it is best to speak with us about your individual situation, case by case.
Do I get to meet other students in The Reading Program?
Yes! We have an appreciation event in June, where we take time to thank our tutors and students for working hard to meet their literacy goals. During this event, you will be able to meet not only all of the other students in the Reading Program, but also other tutors and Literacy Specialists that you have not yet had the chance to meet. We look forward to seeing you there!