OCLC Programs and Services

All OCLC programs are designed to work with the individual needs of adult students. Our programs include:

Adult Literacy and English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL)

Our Adult Literacy Program is designed to help adult learners improve their reading, writing, math and computer skills in order to meet educational, professional or personal goals. Our ESOL Program helps adult, non-native speakers who want to improve their comprehension of written and spoken English in order to become more self-sufficient and engaged, better informed and better able to participate in the life of the community.

Our Process

For Tutors – Potential tutors begin by attending an intensive 12-hour training program that includes lectures, self-paced (online) sessions and role-playing activities. ESOL tutors will attend a follow-on session focusing on needs and methodologies specific to ESOL instruction. We gauge strengths, interests, concerns and availability, and match them with compatible students. We provide continued support to the tutor both individually and through regular in-service programs. To complete a tutor application, click here.

For Students – We work with each student to determine the level of tutoring support he/she will need. The process begins with a scheduled interview, an easy and informal meeting between staff and student to address the student's concerns, goals and expectations. As a part of the process, the OCLC staff member will administer basic skill assessments to determine the student's educational levels of proficiency. To become a student, click here.

Together – Based on tutor availability and student need, OCLC staff place each student in their optimum tutoring environment. Students and tutors decide the best times and locations to meet. Tutors work with staff to measure student progress on a regular basis.

Types of tutoring sessions

  • One-on-One
  • Small groups
  • Special topic workshops
  • Conversational groups (ESOL only)

Locations

  • Public sites throughout the county – such as libraries, community centers
  • OCLC offices
  • Orange County Correctional Center
  • Worksites

Family Reading Workshops

Through funding provided by the Orange County Partnership for Young Children, the OCLC provides highly interactive workshops to encourage parents to read to their young children. The Family Reading Workshops help parents, particularly those with low literacy skills, become more comfortable and adept at reading to their children. Attendees participate in choral reading, expressive reading, discussions about integrating reading into daily activities and make-a-book sessions (complete with glitter). The workshops, which can be held separately or as a four-part series, are offered to existing parenting groups throughout Orange County. To complete a tutor application, click here.

Creative Writing Workshops

The Creative Writing Workshops are an outgrowth of our reach into the community. Literacy skills that go unused fade. The Creative Writing Workshops serve to help those in the area homeless shelters keep their minds active in productive ways. Each week volunteers provide one-hour workshops at both the men’s and women’s shelters. The workshops often result in useful discussions-and especially as a reminder that it is important to write about one's thoughts and to share some of them with others. We often publish writings from our shelter participants in the Council newsletter and on the website. To complete a tutor application, click here.

Eligibility Requirements

Any adult, 18 years or older, who is either lives or works in Orange County, is eligible for free services. OCLC adult learners may include non-readers, persons who want to improve their literacy or English skills, or persons who want to pass a particular test such as the driver's license test, GED exam, or other work-related tests. To become a student, click here.