Make A Difference. Become a Literacy New Jersey Volunteer Tutor

Tutor Information Session Wednesday, January 7, 2026

Literacy New Jersey announces its winter Tutor Information Session on Wednesday, January 7, 2026, at 6 pm. The Tutor Information Session is a prerequisite to registering for Literacy NJ’s Tutor Training Program. The Tutor Training Program consists of 5 sessions starting on Wednesday, January 21, 2026, and will provide tutor trainees with the tools and strategies necessary for working with adult students in one of three categories: English As A Second Language (ESL), High School Equivalency (GED), or Basic Skills.

All training sessions will be conducted online via Zoom. The five required training sessions will take place on Mondays and Wednesdays. The dates are: January 21, 26, 28 and February 2 & 4 from 6 pm to 8 pm. After completing the training sessions, tutors are matched with a small group of adult students from the growing waiting list of students who need to improve their literacy skills. Tutors meet with their students either online or in person in libraries throughout Union or Middlesex County for 2 hours each week. After training, tutor trainees may be matched with a tutor mentor to guide them through their first lesson plans. New tutor volunteers are asked to make a commitment of at least 50 hours of instruction with students.

Neil Esposito, a Literacy New Jersey volunteer ESL tutor, said: “I’m passionate about sharing my time and ability with my students. It gives me great pleasure to witness the progress of my students over the semesters. Several of my students have reached important, personal goals directly linked to their English language progress. One student has taken on an important telephone-based role in her husband’s construction business, talking daily with English-speaking clients. Another has passed her certification exam as a bilingual teacher’s aide in a middle school. These achievements, among numerous others, are the rewards and blessings that make being a literacy volunteer a highlight of my life.”

Literacy New Jersey provides ongoing supervision and support to tutors in the form of free Professional Development workshops on specific topics such as Computer Skills for ESL students, ESL Conversation, Citizenship and Job Readiness.
To volunteer, you must be at least 18 years old, able to speak English and willing to tutor in Union or Middlesex County. You do not need to have any teaching experience, and you do not need to speak a foreign language. The training will provide volunteers with techniques and strategies for working with adult learners, as well as sample instructional materials and activities. There is a $25 registration fee to cover the cost of books and materials. Literacy New Jersey is a non-profit organization.

For more information or to register for the Tutor Information Session on Wednesday, January 7th, 2026, please call Literacy New Jersey at 908-486-1777 x400 or email Barbara Bagger, Program Director, at bbagger@literacynj.org.