October 30, 2003
CFD: Retired UW employee teaches English for area literacy council
Editor’s Note: Throughout the Combined Fund Drive campaign, which runs through Nov. 21, University Week will feature University employees who volunteer at CFD agencies.
Name: Sue Vadman
UW Job: Fiscal Technologist III in Payables Administration, retired 6 months ago
Volunteer Activity: As an active member of the Literacy Council of Seattle, I currently tutor three individuals in English as a Second Language and conduct a small class in writing and mathematics for our current students to help with their goals of obtaining GEDs. I plan and analyze each session. We locate each class where it’s convenient for the student — at our group’s office, separate buildings, or at the student’s home if there is a child to be supervised.
What is the main mission of the organization where you volunteer?
It is a community-based group started 34 years ago dedicated to promoting literacy and skills in English to new Americans and functionally illiterate adults, through either English as a Second Language or Adult Basic Education. The purpose for this work is to strengthen families and our community. Therefore, we’re continually looking for new ways to enable our learners to become more informed, self-reliant and successful. Our 50 tutors are currently working with 120 students, mostly on a one-on-one basis, but also in eight specialized small classes. We try to service the maximum number of students (currently 15 more must wait for tutors) by recruiting and training new tutors in several workshops each year and updating our own knowledge of new books and methods. We maintain a sizable library and access to a wide selection of new books for both tutors and students of these studies. Since the beginning we’ve been a member of Laubach Literacy International, which has become Proliteracy America (www.proliteracy.org).
How long have you been a volunteer there?
I’ve had students since 1998.
Why did you choose this particular activity?
I was concerned about the existence of and the results of illiteracy and felt my knowledge could help alleviate it, so looked for a group doing this. Upon finding LCS I learned the desire for action came much more from new Seattleites for ESL than from those lacking literacy. I found very positive the one-on-one emphasis and their Laubach methods making action possible regardless of whether the student could previously read or write.
Can you describe a memorable experience or two that you’ve had while volunteering?
My first student was from Ethiopia and hadn’t been able to find a satisfactory English program even in Boston. We had some adventures trying to find where to accomplish lessons while her young son tried to get our attention on him instead of on “those books.” Yet she was able to get the various words she’d collected put into organized knowledge of English, and then obtained her U.S. citizenship.
What is the satisfaction for you in volunteering?
I appreciate international communication so enjoy working with people from all over the world. In the brief time since my retirement I’ve had time to include more various types of work with LCS even when not completely retired for a few months.
