Tutor an Adult

Online Volunteer Tutor Application

An estimated 130,000 adults in Memphis are not able to read well enough to fill out a job application or read to their children.  Their lives are often marked by isolation and dependence on others. 

Memphis Literacy Council helps adults improve their reading, writing, and math skills by offering free private tutoring, small classes, and computer lab instruction. Volunteer tutors devote their time and talent towards helping over 300 students who attend each week. Without volunteers, the goal of promoting lifelong learning and improved literacy could not be accomplished.

What are the qualities of a good literacy tutor?

• Patience and flexibility
• A strong commitment to helping others learn
• The ability to work with people from different backgrounds

What are tutors’ responsibilities?

• A commitment to tutor for about two hours a week for one full calendar year
• Completion of a 12-hour tutor training workshop (offered monthly; daytime and weekend schedules available)
• Begin tutoring immediately after training
• Agree to tutor for personal reasons only with no expectation of compensation or payment

Where and when does tutoring take place?

• Students and tutors meet at MLC’s learning center at 902 S. Cooper St., where staff members are always on hand to answer questions and offer support.
• Volunteers choose from daytime, evening, or Saturday morning hours for their tutoring sessions.  Scheduling is flexible.
• In addition to one-on-one tutoring, volunteers can tutor students in the computer lab or in small classes.
• MLC provides all materials and on-going training opportunities for tutors.

How can I become a tutor?

1. Review the calendar of upcoming tutor training workshop, and choose one that fits your schedule.
2. Fill out an application online.  You will be registered for the tutor training workshop of your choice when your application is received.  Confirmation will follow by mail.  If you prefer to print out an application and mail it in, a PDF volunteer application is available.  (PDF is free and can be downloaded from Adobe.)
3. Attend your tutor training workshop.  There you will meet program staff and current tutors.  You will also receive materials, your first tutor assignment, and instructions on how begin.