Tutoring English to Advance Change (TEACH)

Tutoring English to Advance Change (TEACH) works toward systemic change in society by empowering English language learners to make their voices heard through a unique integration of practical one-on-one English literacy education, and individualized cultural mentoring and coaching, as well as citizenship test preparation. TEACH offers free one-on-one tutoring to increase language proficiency and empower limited English- speaking immigrants who, due to language barriers and cultural influences, feel powerless to improve their quality of life.

TEACH approaches literacy not as an end, but a means to achieving life goals, and so emphasizes goal achievement. Students set personal goals to guide instruction; through learning English in pursuit of meaningful goals, overall language proficiency naturally improves.

Tutors also teach working knowledge of U.S. culture, customs and practices so necessary to successfully transitioning into the community and effectively advocating to access resources such as healthcare and ensure equity at work, school and in the community. Through building relationships, key to TEACH’s success, tutors become mentors, coaching learners through day-to-day challenges and improving language and cultural proficiency needed to reach their goals

TEACH's mission calls for promoting systemic change to reduce inequities and injustices confronting immigrants. Embracing this call to be a catalyst to change and to have a lifelong impact on those touched by our dedicated tutors, TEACH has adapted its core program of community-based English literacy tutoring and cultural mentoring to develop innovative approaches that empower particularly vulnerable limited English-speaking immigrants facing life challenges made even more difficult due to language barriers, such as: victims of domestic violence, parents of children with special needs, and those with limited health literacy knowledge.