For years now, STAR Literacy has been breaking down the language barriers to citizens with non-English mother tongues. It offers this vital service by connecting its clients with tutors for free. In recent years, it has also offered a casual opportunity for groups of clients to meet at the library and just chat with a tutor to help out with tricky words.
The organization recently received a grant from the St. Albert Community Foundation to help keep this Conversation Circle going strong.
“It basically feeds the program,” stated Shelley Passek, STAR Literacy's head co-ordinator.
“The reason for that is so that anyone can attend the Conversation Circle and not limit it to certain populations of people. My grant from the government of Alberta has certain parameters for people who can access tutoring through my program. If they fall outside those parameters, I’m technically supposed to charge them or not offer them the service. The grant allows me to do that.”
Currently, 24 clients are engaged with literacy tutors and another 15 are on the waiting list while eight new tutors have just received training. Attendance for the Conversation Circle has remained fairly steady with a regular group of six and numerous other periodic attendees.
The circle usually runs 10 months out of the year, and goes on hiatus during July and August. Last year, however, there was a fair bit of interest for it to continue even during the summer so one of STAR’s literacy tutors ran a few extra sessions.
“One time, they went to some lake at a community not too far from here. They loved it. Those are the things that they wouldn’t normally do or be exposed to or know about. Of course, it increases their vocabulary and their language because they’re out in the community and they’re engaging with people.”
Passek added that she’s grateful to the foundation for the grant. “It helps a lot. We do have limited funding so anything helps and they’ve always been great supporters.”
The drop-in program runs weekly at the St. Albert Public Library. For more information on the Conversation Circle or any other program, call 780-459-5864 or visit www.starliteracy.ca.
