Tutor Job Description

Tutor Application

Useful ESL Links

Tutor/Learner Quarterly Report Form

Click here to take Tutor Survey

Student Application

Language Lab

New AV Materials

Rosetta Stone

Click here to take Student Survey

Introductory Workshop
Monday, July 7, 10:00 a.m.
Trustees Room
For anyone interested in becoming a volunteer ESL tutor.
Please see article below for more information.

Preparing for the Citizenship Interview  
8 sessions beginning Thursday, September 11, 7:00 p.m.
Trustees Room
Please see article below regarding eligibility.

 
Become a Volunteer ESL Tutor 

The Library’s Legacy for Literacy program provides FREE tutoring services for adults of limited English proficiency. Volunteer tutors are very much needed. Teaching English as a Second Language is very rewarding work. Just an hour a week of your time can make a real difference. No prior experience is necessary as tutoring workshops are offered at the Library.

To get involved:

  • Come to our next "Introductory workshop" OR
  • Complete the tutor application provided above and bring it to the library OR
  • Contact ESL/Literacy program coordinator listed at the bottom of this page

 
Applying for U.S. Citizenship? 

If you have applied or are planning to apply to become a U.S. citizen, the Newton Free Library is offering a free 8 session course to help you prepare for the citizenship interview.  The class will cover basic U.S. history and government. Also, students will have an opportunity to practice their English skills through class activities as well as mock interviews.  Students must have basic English speaking and reading skills and an understanding of spoken English.  The 8 sessions, beginning on September 11, will be held Thursday evenings at 7 p.m. in the Trustees Room.  The class is limited to 15 students.  Pre-registration is required.  If you are interested in attending, please call Susan Bécam, ESL/Literacy Program Coordinator, at 617-796-1364 or email legacyforliteracy@minlib.net.

 
Try Our Best Recipes!

A Legacy for Literacy is proud to present its ESL Cookbook, Our Best Recipes, with 150 tasty international recipes provided by ESL tutors and learners in the program. Our popular potluck suppers, held twice a year in Druker Auditorium, inspired this fund-raising vehicle.

Read the April 18, 2007 Boston Globe article about our cookbook.

The cookbook will make a great gift for friends and family. Look for it at the Friends' Gift Cart in the lobby of the Main Library.

A Legacy for Literacy serves more than 250 adults with limited English proficiency. Your support of the cookbook project will help update and expand our literacy collection.

We are grateful to the Friends of the Library for their gracious support.

 
Rosetta Stone
The Rosetta Stone’s dynamic immersion method takes you inside the new language from the very beginning. You learn to speak, write and understand new languages using your natural language-learning abilities and fully interactive technologies. The Rosetta Stone gives ESL and foreign language students what they need to speak in today’s world. Twenty-eight languages are available to choose from!

Access in the library is limited to the Language Lab on the third floor. Home access for this database is available only to Newton residents. Home Access | In Library Access

 
New DVDs in the AV/ESL Collection!
American Scenes: Self-Study Guide
408.9 AMERICAN
Seven thematic programs including travel, housing, university life, emergency situations, everyday activities, and social settings. While language is natural, episodes nevertheless reinforce a wide variety of grammatical structures. Since there is great emphasis put on spoken American English, there are more than 250 common idioms and expressions in the series.

The English Grammar Series
428.2 ENGLISH
Makes the tricky rules of English grammar easier to learn than ever before! Using easy-to-follow examples and practice exercises from everyday life, this series can help the student master even the most complicated English grammar topics.

ABC Pronunciary
428.3 ABC
Teaches pronunciation of the alphabet in a logical, straightforward manner. Vowels, consonants, digraphs, blends and silent letters are presented clearly. There are 51 sounds detailed, each containing a full description of the mouth, color photos, bright illustrations and word examples. For beginning to intermediate students.

Accent Correction Program
428.34 ACCENT
Programs are designed to improve the pronunciation of English vowels, consonants, consonant clusters, syllables, and words for speakers of specific languages. Ideal for all levels of ESL learners. At present we have programs for Vietnamese, Russian, Portuguese, Spanish and Thai speakers. We will also have programs for speakers of Arabic, Chinese Japanese, and Korean.

In English
428.34 LEARN
Learning with In English, a 20 DVD series, is productive and enjoyable. It helps you learn to listen, speak, read, and write in American English.

Master Spoken English – Feeling Phonics
428.4 MASTER
Meeting the need of advanced communication skills courses, and providing beginning readers with the models to master the language, this program is uniquely structured to be both multi-level and multi-purpose.