Literacy Volunteers of the Tarrytowns (LVT) is a group of people dedicated to helping adults in the Tarrytown and Sleepy Hollow community who want to learn how to speak, read, and write English. We meet with learners in one-on-one tutoring sessions weekly, free of charge.

The tutoring center is located on the third floor of the Warner Library. It has four study carrels where two people can work together. The tutoring center houses a diverse collection of textbooks, workbooks, dictionaries, and other print media that tutors, and their learners can use.  Since the start of the COVID pandemic many of our tutors have held their sessions online using Zoom, Skype or other video chat applications. Tutors have also met with their learners outside in a park or on a walk.

Tutor applicants must be nineteen or older and have a good command of the English language. Teaching experience or the ability to speak another language is helpful but not necessary.

You and your learner will decide on a mutually convenient day and time to meet during Warner Library normal operating hours https://warnerlibrary.org/using-the-library/. Or you will decide to meet via Zoom or FaceTime whenever mutually convenient

Each tutor is asked to meet with his or her learner for 2 hours per week for a minimum of 1 year. Most tutors and learners do take a few weeks off for vacations and holidays. The two hours can be divided into multiple sessions within the week.

Let us know the days and times you are available to tutor on the matching form that will be provided to you. Our Director of Tutor-Learner Matching will contact you via email to assign a learner who is available during those times.

Your learner may know little or no English, may have studied English in school, or may be more advanced. If you prefer a beginning or an advanced learner, or a learner that speaks a specific language please let us know on your matching form. We will try to accommodate.

It is possible. Some of our tutors are in Tarrytown Spring through Fall and spend the winter months in warmer places. Once you are matched with a learner, you will be able to set up your own tutoring schedule and find times that suit you and your learner. If your job requires you to be away for several weeks at a time, you may need to do extra preparation so that your learner has lots of review work to do while you are gone.

It is possible to arrange through LVT to tutor in another location in the community that is open to the public during the appropriate hours. If you have such a need, contact your tutor advisor for information on how to proceed. Distance tutoring is an option via Zoom or FaceTime if both tutor and learner have access to the internet.

LVT English Language learners come from many different countries, particularly Latin and Central America. We have helped learners from Argentina, Brazil, Chile, China, Colombia, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Japan, Korea, Morocco, Nicaragua, Pakistan, Peru, and Portugal. In addition, Basic Literacy learners are usually from the United States.

If you prefer to tutor a learner from a particular country or a particular language background, please let us know on your matching form.