Overview
You must be at least 18 years old to enroll in one of our free programs.
We require you to provide a telephone number, and preferably an email address, and that you update this information if or when there are changes to either.
After matching you with a Tutor, you will both be invited to attend a “Meet and Greet” session where we will review expectations, answer questions, and establish initial meeting schedules.
We suggest, but do not require, that you make a commitment to meet three (3) hours per week (1.5 hours twice each week) with your Tutor. We are flexible about time off and changing schedules.
We require you to provide a telephone number, and preferably an email address, and that you update this information if or when there are changes to either.
After matching you with a Tutor, you will both be invited to attend a “Meet and Greet” session where we will review expectations, answer questions, and establish initial meeting schedules.
We suggest, but do not require, that you make a commitment to meet three (3) hours per week (1.5 hours twice each week) with your Tutor. We are flexible about time off and changing schedules.
How To Apply
Please review the information on this website and then schedule an application appointment with our Program Director, by calling 479-273-3486 or emailing cgroseclos@goliteracy.org.
You may bring a relative, coworker, or friend with you to assist with the application if needed.
After completing your application, you will take a short assessment that helps us decide your initial placement level. This will assist your Tutor to better understand your needs.
This application process gives you an opportunity to ask questions you may have. It also allows us to learn more about your personal interests, your goals, and your availability so we can match you with a Tutor who shares similar interests and availability.
You may bring a relative, coworker, or friend with you to assist with the application if needed.
After completing your application, you will take a short assessment that helps us decide your initial placement level. This will assist your Tutor to better understand your needs.
This application process gives you an opportunity to ask questions you may have. It also allows us to learn more about your personal interests, your goals, and your availability so we can match you with a Tutor who shares similar interests and availability.
Success Stories
LCBC Student Tamara Zhykh
Tamara Zhykh is Ukrainian from Belarus and is currently working with a Russian tutor at the Literacy Council of Benton County. They have worked together since August 2020 through Tamara’s introduction to English letters, sounds, words, sentences and now, her American citizenship. All of this while 19 members of her family, her daughters, grandchildren, sons and mother, are hiding and living in basements during the Russian bombardment of Ukraine. “Oh. I cannot think,” Tamara holds her hands to her face.
When Tamara enrolled at LCBC she knew very few English words but started keeping spiral notebooks, inches thick, of English sentences, vocabulary, notes, all color coded and transcribed in Russian with the help of her tutor. “We understand each other,” Mikhail says, “and she takes meticulous notes. She has made tremendous progress. Tamara is an excellent student.” So good a student that she applied for and passed an ESL assessment at the local community college.
Tamara has attended Northwest Arkansas Community College ESL class for a semester and has earned NWACC Honor Society status. “Tamara had a testing problem at the college,” her tutor confides. “Her answers to questions were too long and consequently, she incorrectly answered the questions. We’ve had to learn to be concise, use a smaller vocabulary, less wordy. Answer the question and go on,” Mikhail says. Tamara is adjusting. Concentrating on English allows her to not dwell on what’s happening in Ukraine and in Belarus where she’s from. “Now is citizenship,” she smiles. “And this will take time,” Mikhail says, “Tamara passed her driver’s license and before attending LCBC, tried to test twice on the citizenship test but it didn’t go well. She was not ready. Her English will still take time.” Tamara doesn’t mind. “It keeps my mind … my focus. I was in Belarus last year, September and November, and visited family from Ukraine. My English is my focus. Better to think good things.”
LCBC Student Rafael Artiga-Gudiel
Rafael applied for help from the Literacy Council of Benton County in March of 2021 because he wanted to “think in English”. “At work, we’re given large numbers, quotas, of work to be produced and always, I had to translate the number and take time to think about the number I heard to figure out what was needed for the job. I came to LCBC for help, at least, to practice my speech and to help me think in English.”
Other than improving his work-related vocabulary, Rafael’s listed goals included increasing his income, increasing involvement with his child’s education and his community. Rafael did more in a year than learn to think in English. “I bought a home for my family,” he says with pride, a sense of accomplishment, and a smile. Rafael has a B. A. degree and experience in psychology work in his home country of El Salvador prior to immigrating to the United States and has volunteered to help Afghan refugees if needed. Not able to practice in this country, Rafael now works at a manufacturing company in Lowell, AR and wants to mention his LCBC tutor, Richard Wells.
“I owe a lot to my tutor, Richard,” Rafael says. A lot of time and many conversations later, Rafael was recently called into his supervisor’s office. “I was there for over an hour, and when I left, I realized…I spoke the whole time in English! Without an interpreter!” And, Richard reports, Rafael has been asked to assist other Spanish speakers on the factory floor with their English skills. Rafael, proud of his daughters and wanting to share that pride with his tutor and LCBC, invited staff to his daughter’s photographic exhibit held recently at John Brown University.
“Richard was a model for my daughter, for her project, and I think the photographs turned out great! My daughter asked me to help and I modeled for her, too, walking past a wall or standing away from her,” Rafael said, meeting yet another goal of his, assisting his children with their educational endeavors with confidence to do so. “I’m glad LCBC staff could attend, and Richard. I thank LCBC for all their help!” Rafael and Richard continue to meet at LCBC during the week and work on Rafael’s conversation skills.
Tamara Zhykh is Ukrainian from Belarus and is currently working with a Russian tutor at the Literacy Council of Benton County. They have worked together since August 2020 through Tamara’s introduction to English letters, sounds, words, sentences and now, her American citizenship. All of this while 19 members of her family, her daughters, grandchildren, sons and mother, are hiding and living in basements during the Russian bombardment of Ukraine. “Oh. I cannot think,” Tamara holds her hands to her face.
When Tamara enrolled at LCBC she knew very few English words but started keeping spiral notebooks, inches thick, of English sentences, vocabulary, notes, all color coded and transcribed in Russian with the help of her tutor. “We understand each other,” Mikhail says, “and she takes meticulous notes. She has made tremendous progress. Tamara is an excellent student.” So good a student that she applied for and passed an ESL assessment at the local community college.
Tamara has attended Northwest Arkansas Community College ESL class for a semester and has earned NWACC Honor Society status. “Tamara had a testing problem at the college,” her tutor confides. “Her answers to questions were too long and consequently, she incorrectly answered the questions. We’ve had to learn to be concise, use a smaller vocabulary, less wordy. Answer the question and go on,” Mikhail says. Tamara is adjusting. Concentrating on English allows her to not dwell on what’s happening in Ukraine and in Belarus where she’s from. “Now is citizenship,” she smiles. “And this will take time,” Mikhail says, “Tamara passed her driver’s license and before attending LCBC, tried to test twice on the citizenship test but it didn’t go well. She was not ready. Her English will still take time.” Tamara doesn’t mind. “It keeps my mind … my focus. I was in Belarus last year, September and November, and visited family from Ukraine. My English is my focus. Better to think good things.”
LCBC Student Rafael Artiga-Gudiel
Rafael applied for help from the Literacy Council of Benton County in March of 2021 because he wanted to “think in English”. “At work, we’re given large numbers, quotas, of work to be produced and always, I had to translate the number and take time to think about the number I heard to figure out what was needed for the job. I came to LCBC for help, at least, to practice my speech and to help me think in English.”
Other than improving his work-related vocabulary, Rafael’s listed goals included increasing his income, increasing involvement with his child’s education and his community. Rafael did more in a year than learn to think in English. “I bought a home for my family,” he says with pride, a sense of accomplishment, and a smile. Rafael has a B. A. degree and experience in psychology work in his home country of El Salvador prior to immigrating to the United States and has volunteered to help Afghan refugees if needed. Not able to practice in this country, Rafael now works at a manufacturing company in Lowell, AR and wants to mention his LCBC tutor, Richard Wells.
“I owe a lot to my tutor, Richard,” Rafael says. A lot of time and many conversations later, Rafael was recently called into his supervisor’s office. “I was there for over an hour, and when I left, I realized…I spoke the whole time in English! Without an interpreter!” And, Richard reports, Rafael has been asked to assist other Spanish speakers on the factory floor with their English skills. Rafael, proud of his daughters and wanting to share that pride with his tutor and LCBC, invited staff to his daughter’s photographic exhibit held recently at John Brown University.
“Richard was a model for my daughter, for her project, and I think the photographs turned out great! My daughter asked me to help and I modeled for her, too, walking past a wall or standing away from her,” Rafael said, meeting yet another goal of his, assisting his children with their educational endeavors with confidence to do so. “I’m glad LCBC staff could attend, and Richard. I thank LCBC for all their help!” Rafael and Richard continue to meet at LCBC during the week and work on Rafael’s conversation skills.