Literacy

Adult Literacy Services

• One-on-one adult literacy tutoring
• Small group classes
• Free youth books to grow home libraries
• U.S. citizenship exam practice

About Adult Literacy

To meet the needs of the many adults in Monterey County with limited literacy skills, the Monterey County Free Libraries Adult Literacy Program offers confidential, student centered, one-on-one literacy tutoring to English speaking adults. Our goal is to provide adults with the skills and knowledge they need to be successful as parents, workers, and community members.

Becoming a Learner

Work on your reading, comprehension, pronunciation and writing skills. Tutors can help you prepare for a better job, get your GED, to read with your children, for the citizenship interview or increase your conversation practice. Adult learners with a child under the age of 10 in the home will receive a monthly book to encourage intergenerational literacy.

Learner commitments include communicating English goals to staff and your tutor, arriving on time and ready to learn for sessions, keeping the literacy program and your tutor informed of changes in your schedule, and meeting at a local County Library (Seaside, Marina, King City, etc.).

Interested students may call the literacy office or complete the learner interest form.

Becoming an Adult Literacy Tutor

When you volunteer to be a tutor, you help another person work to realize their potential. You work with someone who has unique gifts and special qualities from whom you will learn a great deal, too. You meet other tutors and share ideas and experiences with them.

Tutor commitments include participating in the program for a minimum of six months, volunteering at least one hour per week, keeping the literacy program informed of any changes in tutoring schedule, and tutoring at a local County Library (Seaside, Marina, King City, etc.).

If interested in becoming a tutor, please complete the tutor interest form.

Library Databases for Language Learners:

Lingo Lite - Features color photos of vocabulary words, native speaker videos. Can be set to show the words or phrases in English and your native language. Create your free account with your library card number (all numbers, no spaces).

Transparent Language - Transparent Language Online is a language learning program for those who want to learn the basics of over 110 languages plus English (ESL). The courses guide you through 30 lessons of language fundamentals, including greetings, planning for a trip, dealing with money, asking for help, and more.

Helpful Links for Learners:

As all these links are for free websites, some of them do contain advertisement links on the pages.

Dave’s ESL Cafe - Forum for both ESL teachers and students around the world. Includes quizzes, grammar explanations, and discussion forums for students.

Language Guide - Online picture dictionary, with everything from the alphabet to parts of the body to farm animals.

My English Pages - Free grammar, vocabulary, speaking and writing lessons for students of English.

News in Levels - choose your level to read world news for students of English.

USA Learns - Basic English and citizenship practice- requires email address to login and take lessons.