Three weeks ago, Rie Shionoya moved from Tokyo to Evanston to be with her husband, a graduate student in the Kellogg School of Management. Although the 37 year old studied English for eight years in Japan, she struggles with conversation skills and isn’t confident about speaking in public or at home.
Every Tuesday morning she meets with people from all over the world to collaborate and strengthen their English skills. Shionoya’s class at Evanston Public Library, 1703 Orrington Ave., is one of six Adult Literacy Drop-In Learning Centers in the city.
The Adult Literacy Project, which runs the learning centers, is holding its first annual Laps for Literacy walk and run from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. Saturday to raise awareness of adult illiteracy as well as money for books and learning materials. It will be held on the outside track at Evanston Township High School, 1600 Dodge Ave.
Shionoya said the group she attends, led by volunteer Robert Dold, 60, a retiree who lives in Evanston, is one of the only places she feels comfortable practicing her English skills.
“My English is very poor,” she said. “(The group leader)’s expressions are easy for me, I can understand.”
The people sitting at her table Tuesday were from Russia, Romania and Japan. As Shionoya and the other students took turns reading out loud, Dold helped them with vocabulary and pronunciation. Encouraged by the supportive environment, the students shared stories and experiences in English.
Dold, who has been volunteering with the Adult Literacy Project since January, said his experiences traveling abroad inspired him.
“I like to help them because I know what it’s like to have trouble with a language,” he said.
English proficiency not only improves people’s self-confidence – it broadens their educational and career opportunities, program facilitator Alaine Wolfson said.
“It has a huge impact on the kind of jobs they’re going to have, the quality of life they’re going to have,” Wolfson said. “They don’t have to rely on their husbands for things like going to the doctor’s or getting the car fixed.”
The Adult Literacy Project is part of ETHS’s Adult/Continuing Education program. Nationwide, ACE programs served more than 500 people in 2004 in Cook County, said Anna Nakashima, director of the Adult Literacy Project’s parent program.
Laps for Literacy is open to the public and will raise money through pledges gathered by participants.
“You can either walk or run,” said organizer Jeanie Ramsey. “It’s open to all levels of participation.”
To participate in Laps for Literacy or volunteer with the Adult Literacy Project, contact Jeanie Ramsey at (847) 424-7635.
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