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How We Can Help

Do you want to read, write, spell or speak English better? We can help. We will provide you with your own tutor who can help you reach your goals. Our services are free and confidential. Call us today at (207) 947-8451.

These are some of the things we can help you do:

  • Read to your children
  • Read your mail, recipes, prescriptions, etc.
  • Study for your high school diploma or HiSet (formerly GED)
  • Get a driver’s license
  • Read the paper, books, or the Internet
  • Keep your job or get a better one
  • Study for your U.S. citizenship test
  • Speak English
  • Improve your self-confidence

Want help today? Call our office at (207) 947-8451. Or, fill out the application below.

Apply

You may fill out an application online, print it out and mail it to us, or call our office for help at (207) 947-8451.

Basic Literacy Student Application

Use this form if you want help with reading, writing, or spelling and English is your first language. If you can’t complete the form, that is okay. Fill out as much as you can.

You can complete and submit this PDF online by emailing us, or you can print it out and mail it to us. The address is on the form.

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English Language Student Application

Use this form if English is not your first language. If you can’t complete the form, that is okay. Fill out as much as you can.

You can complete and submit this PDF online by emailing us, or you can print it out and mail it to us. The address is on the form.

DOWNLOAD

Frequently Asked Questions

Students come to us with lots of questions. We answer some of the most common questions here.

Student Stories

Our students have very different backgrounds. They come to us with very different goals. Whatever they hope to achieve, Literacy Volunteers is here to help. You can read a few stories from our students below.

Iliana

“I moved to Maine in 2010 after growing up in New Mexico, where Spanish was spoken in my home and community. I liked school when I was younger but have always struggled with English.”

“Ever since I was a teen, I have known that I wanted to be a nurse. As a single mom of three children, I was tired of dead-end jobs and getting assistance. I needed an education to move ahead.”

“For me, College English was impossible. I flunked it twice! Then I met my Literacy Volunteer tutor, Kathleen. She helped me with writing. Thanks to her, I finally passed English—with an A!”

Ketson Dubuisson

In 2010, a catastrophic earthquake struck Haiti, killing thousands and nearly destroying what was already a desperately poor country. Graduation was within reach when Ketso Dubuisson’s college was flattened, fellow students were killed, and a finance degree became an empty dream.

Ketson made the heart-wrenching decision to leave his country and culture. In the U.S., he married and eventually came to Bangor. He took a job translating medical information for agricultural workers. That position inspired a new goal, a nursing degree. He works diligently with a tutor to perfect his English and make progress towards his nursing degree.

Nicole Hustus

Nicole dropped out of high school at 16 with a baby and a growing fear of failure. Several years later, she met folks from Literacy Volunteers of Bangor who encouraged her to get her diploma. She thought, “I can’t do that,” and resisted help. But staff saw her potential and kept in touch until Nicole’s fears gave way to a firm basis of trust.

Her confidence began to emerge when she earned her diploma with the help of a tutor. Over the course of several years with us, Nicole has persisted. She got her first job, established her own bank account, and got her driver’s license. She’s a devoted wife and mother of three and an active volunteer in her faith community.

She keeps that graduation tassel hanging where she can see it every day and say to herself, “Look! I did that!”

Ferdous Fendereski

“My son was very small when Irene started to be my tutor. She came to our place and then we had the class. We read a book and my point was just to have daily conversation. My English was so bad. I couldn’t speak, I couldn’t read, I couldn’t write. Nothing. So, I started and I asked Irene a lot — can you just, you know, explain for me? What does it mean?”

They continued their four-year friendship even after Ferdous’ husband took a job in Virginia and the family moved. They texted and then began using Zoom to continue polishing Ferdous’ English conversation skills.

Ferdous summed up our mission beautifully: “Thank you to Literacy Volunteers. It’s not just tutoring—we have family here.”

Robin Meservey

When Robin Meservey was a sophomore in high school, she was in a car accident that resulted in losing her language, reading, and math skills. She began working with Literacy Volunteers of Bangor to get those skills back. 

Robin works closely with Lee F. White, a tutor and retired gerontological social worker. The two have developed a friendship and experienced the joy of learning together.

For me, it’s been amazing. Lee’s been an amazing support for me,” Robin said. “I don’t think it’s really learning as much as having fun and taking away a lot from everything that we’re doing. I think it’s more friendly than teacher/student. I think it’s more supportive.”