September/October 2020 Newsletter 
PLC's Basic Tutor Training Goes Online!

Portland Literacy Council's "Basic Tutor Training" is typically taught on two consecutive Saturdays for a total of 16 hours of training. The course covers a wide variety of skills to help tutors effectively teach adult learners. PLC usually offers Basic Tutor Training three times a year-in concert with the local community college schedules-fall, winter, and spring.

In 2020, PLC has changed its course offerings in an effort to respond to the pandemic and the quickly changing needs of the Portland literacy community. In September, PLC instructor Sarah Bauer and Board Member Linda Rountree teamed up to revise the curriculum and make Basic Tutor Training into an online offering. The course-which sold out on the first day it was offered-maxed out at 30 participants. Sarah Bauer incorporated the previous curriculum, which had been revised last year, and added new content on how to use Zoom as an online tutor.

Feedback from PLC's September Online Basic Tutor Training course has been overwhelmingly positive:
  • "What a wonderful training that was! I am very impressed by the materials, especially the manual and the practicality of the course. It's professional expertise wrapped up in caring humanity. I appreciate your excellence and your values. Bravo!"
     
  • "Thank you both! It was a truly wonderful experience. I also loved the break-out rooms and look forward to trying to use them myself."
     
  • "5 out of 5. Sarah and Linda are such great instructors and so experienced. I'm so happy they could share some of their knowledge with us."
     
  • "5 out of 5. I'd give it a higher number if I could!"
PLC plans to offer the next Online Basic Tutor Training course in November 2020. Stay tuned for details. Contact Linda Rountree at [email protected] for more details.
 
 
PLC's Online Tutor Training 
Efforts a Success

Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, PLC has offered a number of online workshops focused on teaching literacy skills virtually. We're pleased to announce we have received overwhelmingly positive feedback, and plan to continue to offer these highly popular online opportunities this fall.

Comments Received regarding PLC's Spring Online 
Tutor Training Courses:
  • "In my role of volunteer tutor coordinator at PCC's Southeast campus,  I am gratefully impressed with PLC's quick response to the need for remote tutor trainings and dedication to offering continued support. The sessions provide a toolkit of practical strategies easily implemented. New tutors mention they felt more prepared to tutor in remote classrooms and were thankful for Linda's mentoring opportunities. More seasoned tutors have commented on additional tips and strategies that allow them to deepen their practice."  
  • "[PLC's] classes (Zoom for ESOL) [taught by Linda Bonder] were very helpful, by the way.  Thank you!  You are a skillful teacher and I appreciated your focus on immediate application of our new knowledge.   As per your suggestion, I've been practicing for the upcoming classes by having meetings with myself; one of me on the phone and one of me on the laptop.  So much interesting technology!"
  • "Thank you very much [to PLC and Linda Bonder] for the great workshops. The sessions were very clear and so well organized. Thanks so much for your kind encouraging words, learning new technology can daunting for me. I appreciate the recordings, slides and resources." 
  • "[PLC's tutor instructor Eric Dodson] has an abundance of ideas/creativity, covered many valuable areas and did a heck of a lot of research to develop this workshop. I came away with some golden nuggets, like an end-of-class routine, assessments of new student needs, and new tech Padlet, for example. [I appreciated the] open dialogue with all the participants. He was very willing to take and answer questions . . . He shared his greater knowledge and experience with us in a friendly and supportive way."
Online Tutoring/Teaching Resources

Online Tutor Training and Volunteer Opportunities:
  • ESL Companion - Matching volunteers with English language learners using online video & chat apps
Tutorials for Online Platforms:
  • Zoom tutorials (You Tube) - More than twenty ZOOM videos on how to use ZOOM features, most are a few minutes long
     
  • Zoom Support - Includes Quick Start Guides, Video Tutorials, and more
  • ESL Library - Free to current ORTESOL members. Check out their website to join or renew your membership
Help From Local Experts: 
  • Multnomah County Library  - The library's website offers a number of helpful online resources. People with questions about computers/apps can contact Lisa Regimbal, Adult Literacy Services Coordinator, to arrange for assistance from library staff. 

SOCIAL MEDIA

 

Visit the Portland ESL Network Facebook Discussion Group

    

All Portland-area teachers and tutors are invited to share ideas, questions, and opportunities for supporting English language learning.