by Mary Young, tutor

 Imagine being a welcoming committee – an ambassador – a guide to understanding – a smiling face – a friend.

There are people in our community that are currently isolated and without a voice to communicate.  They desperately want to learn what it means to live in the United States, to speak, read and write English, and to become a citizen.  You can help them. My morning at the McAuley Center is a gem in my life and I take every opportunity to tell others about my experience as a tutor.

When I decided to start tutoring at CMC, many asked me, “Do you speak all those languages?” The answer is, no, I only speak English and I am not a teacher.  Your goal as a tutor at the McAuley Center is to help your student learn conversational English: to be able to ask “Where is the rice?”; “How much are the potatoes?”; and “How is my child doing in school?”  

As a tutor, you get the experience of an international friendship. I have learned of the different areas of China; about harvesting ginseng in Northern China; where French Guiana is; about Burundi, Mexico and Vietnam. I have helped a student prepare for the citizenship test and would have not passed the test myself prior to studying with my student.  It was a very moving experience for me when she was sworn in as a U.S. citizen. 

Being a tutor at the McAuley Center has given me a deeper appreciation and understanding of the world.  There are currently more than 70 students waiting for a guide to help them communicate and find their way.  Consider giving an hour or more of your week. I think that you will find, as I did, that you gain far more from being a tutor than you give.

 Read more of our FY13 Annual Report.

Hear more about students and tutors at CMC in this Gazette article!