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  • Ending Adult Illiteracy Begins with You

Oakland Literacy Council

Everyone Has a Fundamental Right to Literacy


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Become a Tutor

Tutor and Learners Meet in Public Spaces Like Libraries

Do you want to make a difference in your own community?

You have neighbors who are struggling to read and do basic math.

Do you want to teach someone to fill out a job application?

Do you want to teach someone to read a book to their grandchild?

Do you want to teach someone to balance their checkbook or learn math to take the high-school equivalency exam?

You also have neighbors who are struggling to communicate because they don’t speak English. 

Do you want to teach them how to have a conversation with their doctor or their child’s teacher?

Do you want to teach them to get a job and get a promotion?

Do you want to teach them to pass the citizenship exam?

Become A Volunteer Tutor And Make A Difference In Someone’s Life

Help them to become confident, achieve their goals and make your community a better place for all of us.  Join us by becoming a literacy or a math tutor…give the gifts of reading, communicating, or calculating to someone who lives or works in your community.  You will be able to tutor virtually or in person at a time that works for both you and your student.

We ask tutors to commit to tutoring for at least one year and to meet at least two hours per week year round (vacations are ok).

Making a positive difference in someone’s life, can make a positive change in our whole world.   Many tutors report that they have learned so much more than they expected.

We Will Train You For This Important Task

No teaching experience? No problem.

We provide our incoming tutors with classroom training to prepare you for your first student assignment.

We also provide ongoing support to tutors in the form of a tutor coordinator, workshops, tutor-to-tutor events, an online forum and training materials.  You won’t be alone.

Begin Your Journey Today

Ready to get started? Want to learn more?

STEP 1: Attend a virtual 30-minute information session to learn more about adult literacy and Oakland Literacy Council’s mission.

STEP 2: Register for tutor training. The training is in two parts. The training occurs every six weeks or so.  Click here to register for training.

  • Part 1: Required of all tutors. This training is virtual.
    • Saturday, March 1, 9-11 am
  • Part 2: Choose only the type of tutoring you wish to do.
    • Targeted training for tutors working with foreign-born English Language Learners. 
      • Saturday, March 8, 9 am- 1 pm. This will be in person at our office in Pontiac.
    • Targeted training for tutors working with students preparing for the Reading, Social Studies and Science subjects of the GED high-school equivalency tests.
      • Friday, March 28, 10 am – 2 pm. This will be virtual.
    • Targeted training for tutors working with U.S.-born MATH students
      • TBD
    • Targeted training for tutors working with adults on digital literacy skills.
      • TBD

If the dates below do not work for you, call 248-253-1617 to learn about future dates.

STEP 3: Meet your student!


We look forward to welcoming you to the Oakland Literacy family.

Tutor Info Sessions

Join us for a 30-minute virtual meeting to hear how Oakland Literacy Council tutors help fellow adults meet their individual literacy and numeracy goals. 

Click here to register for an information session

If these dates don’t work for you, call 248-253-1617.

Reap the Benefits of Volunteering

When you give your time, you benefit yourself AND others. Here’s why:

  • Volunteers are less likely to develop high blood pressure and more likely to sleep better and live longer.
  • Volunteering promotes human connection, greater sense of purpose, and more happiness over time.
  • Volunteering boosts your self-confidence and keeps your mind sharp.

Volunteer Testimonials

Members of the D’Souza family talk about why they volunteer as tutors:

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Oakland Literacy Council
Oakland Literacy Council
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Lesley TauroLesley Tauro
12:43 05 Sep 24
I love being a English Tutor with Oakland Literacy Council on a one-on-one basis as well as for a conversation group. Through OLC, I have had the opportunity to meet so many incredible people, many who have become friends.
Cynthia WersteinCynthia Werstein
23:48 04 Sep 24
I have enjoyed my ESL tutoring with Oakland Literacy Council. We received training to help us, help our students. I feel like I can reach out for additional help if needed. Not to forget, they offer outside activities, on occasion, so that the students and tutors can do some typical, but fun activities! OLC is a great organization to volunteer with.
Lisa BurnsLisa Burns
21:33 04 Sep 24
I've been volunteering with the OLC for about a year and a half, and it's been a great experience! I very much enjoy the tutoring sessions with the student whom they paired me with. She is a lovely person and I've learned a lot from her too. OLC makes tutoring easy for volunteers, with an easy-to-use curriculum, training, support, and social events. Highly recommend!
Qambar Ali SarwariQambar Ali Sarwari
19:50 04 Sep 24
Great team, motivational atmosphere, Thank you for your always support and help, especially the refresher training you provide to the tutors.Warm regards ,Ali
Brad RothBrad Roth
19:07 04 Sep 24
When I retired in 2020 (in the middle of the covid pandemic) I wanted to find ways to volunteer. As a former college professor, I am particularly concerned about education and literacy. Working with Oakland Literacy Council has been a wonderful experience for me. The staff at OLC (particularly Laurie Weeks) is so helpful and appreciative. I've gotten more hand-written thank you notes from Laurie in the last four years than from everyone else throughout the rest of my life combined. Volunteering for OLC lets me give back to society but enjoy retirement too. I highly recommend it.
Kelly TurnerKelly Turner
11:12 23 Aug 24
I would like to say How amazing Oakland literacy Council is I came in May To Continue my education and I thank god I found them they where at the bottom of the list when they should have been at the top of the list first off the staff is amazing they did everything by the book I did placement testing to figure out where to place me they took the time out to get the best tutors they also called and checked in on me and also motivated me to keep going and never give up they gave me the option to go online for tutoring or in person Stewart my tutor was amazing he took pride in educating me and never made me feel like I was bothering him patricia was amazing she stayed on me and stayed consistent they made me feel like familythe icing on the cake was how they acknowledged me on graduation day the whole team was there for me and my family and I was so happy and me and my kid's could feel the love it's nothing that I would not do for Oakland literacy I will be there spokesperson for life cause it's worth it and they have top notch tutors employees and the online tutor services is Phenomenal if you're seeking to continue your education look no more this is the place to go
Sanghee HanSanghee Han
11:59 22 Aug 24
I was so lucky to meet oakland literacy Council. Since OLC has been a great institute for me almost 2 years. And they helped my english improve and give me some good talking classes for learning new culture here as well. Now that I graduated from a reading program at OLC, I feel like I'm still with them. Really appreciate it.
BAIYANG LAIBAIYANG LAI
19:36 15 Aug 24
In the past three years I learned English with Oakland Literacy. I met quite a few tutors in one by one tutoring and some conversation groups. Those tutors were so incredible and awesome! They really really helped me a lot in my English. My gratitude to all of them is beyond words!
jung min sonjung min son
17:36 15 Aug 24
Thank you for having me with your excellent support.. I really enjoyed learning English and having conversation class with others. I made some good friends and I think Oakland Literacy Council is very good for people who need English support 👏 👍
Joseph Lee (Jo)Joseph Lee (Jo)
16:39 15 Aug 24
Oakland Literacy Council was a very good program for me as my second language. I evaluated my English ability through English listening and reading tests and matched my tutor accordingly. As a result, my English improved a lot. And most of all, it was free.
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OAKLAND LITERACY COUNCIL 51111 Woodward Ave., Suite 720, Pontiac, MI 48342

(248) 253-1617, info@oaklandliteracy.com

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