April is National Volunteer Month!

DCLC is incredibly grateful for all of our volunteers – every contribution is important to sustaining and supporting our mission! Our volunteer tutors work one on one with adult learners, helping them learn basic reading and writing or to speak English as a Second Language. We provide all volunteer tutors with a free, comprehensive training program and ongoing support, including books and lesson plans. DCLC also welcomes volunteer tutors as classroom aides. These volunteers work side by side with one of our professional staff instructors, assisting the instructor and students as needed. Thank you, DCLC volunteers! DCLC thrives on the good will and many talents of our generous volunteers.

If you are interested in becoming a volunteer tutor, visit www.delcoliteracy.org/volunteer.

DCLC Visits the Brandywine River Museum



Thanks to the generosity of the Brandywine River Museum, students from ESL Instructor Chris Zakorchemny’s class recently experienced “Rooted,” the museum’s current exhibit of illustrated children’s books by eight contemporary artists.

“While the stories are simple in language, they are emotional,” says Zakorchemny. “Many are international or immigrant stories about the enduring bonds of family, which is a compelling topic for my students, many of whom are apart from immediate family members.”

The students who attended the exhibit are from Zakorchemny’s Intermediate and Advanced English as a Second Language classes. “Teacher Chris” – as he is affectionally called by his students – prepared written materials about the exhibit prior to the outing, served as a tour guide by answering questions, and encouraged conversation so that his students could practice their verbal language skills.

“It was a very good day,” said ESL student Aysulu Zholdybaeva, a second-year student. “Thanks for Teacher Chris.