English learners celebrate literacy at Writing Event Awards Ceremony

Participants in the Laubach English Literacy Program at the Ramona Library took center stage at the 2013 Writing Event Awards Ceremony.

The writing event is conducted every year in April to give English learners the opportunity to use the writing skills acquired during the year. This year 26 learners from beginner to intermediate levels participated. The essay topic was “Food.” All of the writing was completed in the classroom using minimal notes and a dictionary.

Each participant received a certificate and a book donated by the Laubach Literacy Council of San Diego County during the May 7 ceremony in the library. The council in partnership with the San Diego County Library system offers English as a Second Language (ESL) classes in libraries, Ramona’s, as well as in non-library centers.

Also recognized at the ceremony are two from the Ramona Library ESL selected by the Laubach council to receive awards at its Annual Meeting on May 18: Bernadette Faust for the Outstanding Tutor Award, and Concepcion Olivas as Outstanding Student.

“The Ramona Library for years has spearheaded a top draw program teaching English as a second language several times a week with dedicated teachers from our community,” said Ellie Slade, Ramona Library’s branch manager.

About 250 tutors serve approximately 800 adult learners throughout the county, making this Laubach council the largest totally volunteer ESL organization in the county. The trained tutors who make up the council are volunteers affiliated with the Pro-Literacy Worldwide and the San Diego Council on Literacy. As volunteers, they are dedicated to the idea that everyone in the United States should have the opportunity to learn how to speak, read and write English.

A tutor training will be held on June 22 and 29 in the Poway Branch Library. Anyone interested in becoming a tutor or learning English may visit the website at www.laubachsandiego.org.