Lifelong Learning
Librarianship occupies a very specific place within the greater field of education. I feel it is important that librarians work to foster learning in a variety of settings so as to achieve the broadest possible perspective on the learning process.
For six months, I volunteered as an ESL Tutor at the Albany Park Community Center on Chicago's Northwest Side. This vibrant neighborhood is one of the most diverse in the country, and the community center acts as a vital resource for both children and adults who are new to America and have little or no knowledge of the English language.
In my time as a tutor, I worked one-on-one with a student who had recently moved to the US from El Salvador. Originally, we met twice per week to build her vocabulary, grammar, and pronunciation skills, as well as her overall confidence in conversational English. After three months, her skills had improved to the point where she was able to gain placement in a formal classroom at the community center. Thereafter, we continued meeting once per week to supplement her formal classes.
This experience has been as enjoyable for me as it has been informative. Through this kind of exchange, I have had the opportunity to develop a number of educational skills and strategies that will doubtless prove useful in any number of library interactions.