Alta’s tutor training course is one of the more exciting although hectic times of the year.
Up to 100 prospective volunteer tutors are trained annually over a six-week period to effectively and efficiently deliver the Alta program to adults in Trinidad.
Volunteers who are trained would have attended a screening interview at Alta between October 2016 and February 2017 and completed an obligatory observation period at an Alta class to get a feel of the classroom.
The course, which is intensive and fast-paced, receives excellent reviews every year. The volunteer tutors who are successful at the training course will begin teaching in September.
Training prepares volunteers to deliver the curriculum designed by Alta, and introduces them to new concepts about the process of reading for anyone whose aptitude is lower than the average.
At Alta, we describe the course as “intensive,” because the topics and course content covered in six days, can easily be turned into a year-long or three-month semester course. But we are aware that volunteer (and free) time is a scarce and limited resource.
The cost of this training is met by the service, in time, which volunteers have agreed to give to Alta.
The fact that training is free for volunteers who have agreed to teach does not mean there is no cost to be trained.
Alta ensures this is made very clear to all volunteers before they agree to participate.
Training is a whole day process and brings together some of the most experienced tutors in adult literacy in T&T.
Their knowledge in Alta’s structured, sequential approach developed for teaching dyslexics and the learner-centered approach of adult literacy, is modelled through individual and group activities.
As part of our philosophy to engage student interest and use material relevant to the student’s life, trainers give volunteers first-hand experience of becoming students before they become tutors. The best tutors are learners at heart.
In Alta, volunteers come from all walks of life, with different personalities and convictions. Some will master the teaching methods modelled by trainers on their first try, but for others it may take a couple tries.
Training is the best opportunity to make mistakes, learn from others and ask questions, so we encourage our prospective volunteer tutors to take advantage of the time among their peers to expose their weaknesses.
It is something we also tell students, because the message to “not fail” is sometimes conditioned into crippling, irrational fear.
During the upcoming academic year, many tutors will discover that fear finds its way to the Alta classroom door, but it only takes hold if tutors and students invite it in.
We haven’t yet met an Alta tutor who didn’t feel fulfilled both after the training course and a year of teaching in the Alta classroom.
If you would like to volunteer with Alta in any other capacity feel free to call Alta at 624-2582. To become a volunteer tutor, the next cycle opens in October 2017, be sure to contact Alta today.
Volunteer, Donate or Sponsor-a-student. Call 624-2582 or email Altapos.tt@gmail.com for more info. Keep up to date with Alta on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram: Alta TT