Keeping In Touch, Volume 49

Volume 49 | December 4, 2021

This issue is all about Christmas and Hanukkah!

Greetings, Tutors!

December is a great time to talk about culture and terminology for students who may or may not celebrate the holidays in their homes or home countries. Not only are these holidays important to American society, but each festivity has a rich and unique collection of vocabulary. With the celebration of traditions and customs, December is always a jubilant time of year.

This edition of Keeping In Touch focuses on the season's heritage and offers activities and exercises to practice listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills. We wish you the most wonderful holiday season and look forward to another fantastic year of learning and sharing together!

As always, please do not hesitate to reach out if you have questions or need help with tutoring strategies. Be well and take care.

With gratitude and hope,

Carol Garcia

Your Tutor Support Specialist

Tutor Engagement

Q2 Hours Due - This month, watch for an important email request to report your tutoring hours and provide an update regarding tutoring status.

Our second quarter closes December 31, 2021, and your highly valued data will help us complete our semi-annual reports required by funders.
As we post-test a learner, the tutor will receive a request to update and return an attached Achievement/Goals Form electronically. Literacy DuPage is required to report to its funders aggregated learner testing data, achievements/goals, and tutoring hours.

Your attention to these requests is critical to compliance with grants and funders. Thank you in advance for your responsiveness!

Resources for you & your student

English Conversation Groups

ESL Conversation Groups offer an informal and friendly environment for adults at an intermediate or above level to practice their English listening and speaking skills.

Literacy DuPage currently offers seven virtual (Zoom) ESL Conversation Groups and three in-person groups. Although the following partner libraries host these groups, they are open to anyone in DuPage County.

VIRTUAL CONVERSATION GROUPS

Addison Public Library

(Mondays, 2:00 - 3:00 p.m.)

https://addisonlibrary.libcal.com/event/7764601

Indian Prairie Public Library

(Wednesdays, 7:00 - 8:00 p.m.)

https://ippl.libcal.com/event/7353974

Itasca Community Library

(Wednesdays, 1:00 - 2:30 p.m.)

https://events.itascalibrary.org/event/7847324

Naperville 95^th Street Library

(Mondays, 7:00 – 8:00 p.m.)

https://napervillepl.librarycalendar.com/events/english-conversation-group-11

Westmont Public Library

(1st and 3rd Saturdays of the month, 10:00 - 11:00 a.m.)

https://westmontlibrary.evanced.info/signup/EventDetails?EventId=9889&backTo=Calendar&startDate=2021/12/02

Wheaton Public Library

(Saturdays, 10:00 - 11:00 a.m.)

https://wheaton.librarycalendar.com/events/english-conversation-group-11

Woodridge Public Library

(Tuesdays, 10:00 - 11:00 a.m.)

https://www.woodridgelibrary.org/virtual-esl-conversation-group-55

IN-PERSON CONVERSATION GROUPS

Indian Prairie Public Library

(1st and 3rd Saturdays of the month, 10:00 a.m. - noon)

https://ippl.libcal.com/event/8447278

Lisle Library District

(2nd and 4th Saturdays of the month, 10:00 a.m. - noon)

https://lislelibrary.evanced.info/signup/EventDetails?EventId=29826&backTo=Calendar&startDate=2021/12/02

West Chicago Public Library

(Tuesdays, 11:00 - 12:30 p.m.)

https://westchicago.evanced.info/signup/EventDetails?EventId=9217&backTo=Calendar&startDate=2021/12/02

Community Resources

Agencies throughout DuPage County offer holiday programs. Several area agencies, governments, and nonprofits provide holiday gift programs for people who need help this year.

To find programs and the eligibility requirements for DuPage County residents, see DuPageCRIS.org.

The COVID Vaccine Booster Clinic, sponsored by the IL Department of Public Health, will be held on December 7, 2021, from 3:00 - 7:00 p.m. at Wheaton Library. Initial vaccines and booster shots are available. Click here for more information.

Family Shelter Service provides support and assistance to those experiencing domestic violence. Click here for more information.

The Illinois Housing Development Authority’s (IHDA) Rental Payment Program provides rental assistance to help households impacted by COVID-19 who have fallen behind on their rent. Applications will be accepted online Monday, Dec. 6, 2021, through 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, Jan. 9, 2022. Click here for details.

Willow Creek Church Care Center will be distributing free holiday meal boxes and fresh food from Jimenez Grocery Store on December 8. Click here for details.