Help Tri-Valley Adults Learn English

PLEASANTON, CA — More than 200 Tri-Valley adults rely on Pleasanton Reads, a free one-on-one English literacy and tutoring program offered by the Pleasanton Library and Recreation Department, to help them master the language. But more than 100 people are waitlisted because there aren't enough tutors to meet demand.

The program's growth has outpaced the number of volunteers signing up, as more immigrants have moved to Tri-Valley in recent decades, said Lori Carducci, a coordinator of the program. People who don't speak English as a first language want to help their kids with homework, have more work opportunities, plug in to their communities and churches, and fine-tune their accents.

Pleasanton Reads most often works with students who speak Chinese, Korean, Spanish and Russian as a first language, she said.

The waitlist has also grown as the Pleasanton Unified School District's adult education program came back online after losing funding during the recession. Pleasanton Adult Education works closely with Pleasanton Reads, and the programs refer students to each other, Carducci said.

Though there are options to take classes at Las Positas College or through Pleasanton Adult Education, they don't offer one-on-one tutoring like Pleasanton Reads does.

Pleasanton Reads is hosting a volunteer training event on Jan. 25, from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., at the Pleasanton Senior Center Classroom (5353 Sunol Blvd.). Volunteers should be able to donate one or two hours a week for at least six months.

Volunteers don't need to speak a second language, but they do need to be fully familiar with English and American culture, Carducci said. Bilingual tutors can sometimes help students in a way that monolingual speakers can't.

The training events usually net about 15 to 20 interested volunteers, but Carducci said the program would be able to make a bigger dent in its waitlist if 30 to 35 volunteers came away from the event.

Questions about Pleasanton Reads can be directed to literacy@cityofpleasantonca.gov or 925-931-3405.