Saginaw, Texas -- Would you like to learn to read better in English?  The John Ed Keeter Public Library of Saginaw offers both Adult Literacy and Adult English as a Second Language classes. 

Come to the Saginaw library for help filling out those pesky forms, reading notes from your child’s teacher, studying for a driver’s license, or obtaining your U.S. citizenship.  Several students have found jobs, read more to their children, and at least one student is working towards getting her U.S. citizenship.

Would you like to help students learn to read?  Eleven ESL students are waiting for a tutor.  Right now, the library has five tutors and sixteen students in ESL classes, and two tutors and two students in Literacy classes.  In addition to classes, the library also offers Rosetta Stone software to students to learn English.  Students can use the software during class and outside of class.

Both tutors and students enjoy the learning process.  Pat Friar, who teaches Literacy, finds teaching both enjoyable and challenging.  She says it is “rewarding to see progress students are making.” 

Pat wants prospective tutors to know that “you don’t have to have a teaching background” to be a tutor.

Masayasu Koyama, an ESL student from Japan, likes his classes and using Rosetta Stone.  Through texts, reading articles, and e-mails, Masa’s tutor helps him understand the American lifestyle and “corrects expressions” to help him sound more like an American. 

Since taking ESL classes, Masa has obtained his private pilot’s license.  At first, it was hard for both the control tower and Masa to understand each other.  Now, Masa says, “They answer quicker,” and listening to them is easier for him.  Masa says Rosetta Stone also assists him in learning the “rhythms of the English language.”

If you are interested in attending or teaching Adult Literacy or ESL
classes, please call Janet at the Saginaw library at 817-230-0341.