Project Read

Nicolas Mandujano Writing Samples–April 2012

shauna — Thu, 17 May 2012 15:27:38 +0000

Sample 1

When I was about 13 years old, I started to go to the water park two or three times a week, because I was a fat boy and my P.E. teacher gave me some suggestions to loss weight and get some muscles.

One of those days, went early in Sunday, after three or four hours, (about noon) the pool was full. Then three guys came to the diving pool where I was. They were extremelly drunk.

I always liked to be in the deepest area, close to the diving board and 18 feet platform.

Then, one of them went to the platform because their friends challenged him to dive, but he fell horizontally on his belly.

I laughted automatically, and his friends came to me screaming to me;

-Go up immediatelly! If not, we kill you!

I was a kid and felt so scared, but did my best to show calm and security. Went directly to the platform and saw them smiling.

Put my hands together in front of me and closed my eyes. (Forgot to say that it was my first time on a platform)

Then jumped strongly still closed eyes, to fell over my belly worst than the other guy.

I felt my belly hottest than ever and swam to the opposite side under the water.

Since that time, I trained to dive correctly.

Sample 2

Ixtaccihuatl y Popocatepetl: A love story at the pre-Hispanic Mexico

At the Valley of Mexico a few centuries before the arrival of the Spaniards, the Aztecs was the dominant tribe in central Mexico.

Obvious! All the neighbor tribes was obliged to pay tribute to the most powerful tribe.

Finally, the chief of Tlaxcaltecas, called together all his generals and command them to fight the Aztecs.

The most brave warrior was Popocatepetl, who was in love of Ixtaccihuatl.

Ixtaccihuatl was the princess and was in love of Popocatepetl also.

The Caciqe accepted Popocatepetl to marry Ixtaccihuatl if he came back victorious from war.

They went to wage war and the brave Popocatepetl, in love of the princess and full of hope won all the battles.

Among the other generals, there was Citlaltepetl, a wicked man who sent a messenger to Ixtaccihuatl notifying that Popocatepetl was dead in battle.

Ixtaccihuatl wept intensively at the edge of madness.

The princess finaly fall sick and passed away pronouncing the name of Popocatepetl at last.

Popocatepetl returned triumphant, but when the chief told him about the tragedy, fell in deep insanity.

Suddenly Popocatepetl sent 20,000 of his soldiers to pile up the rocks and soil of ten mountains to build a palace to preserve the beloved cadaver.

When the mausoleum was ready, Popocatepetl carried Ixtaccihuatl to the summit to cry for her by oneself.

Finally Popocatepetl decided to dead to find her in the world of dead.

Therefore; the noble warrior died close to her with a torch in his hand.

Across the time the dust and snow covered the lovers, creating the mountains that adorn the Valley of Mexico in the present days.

Popocatepetl still have fire in his heart because of the love of Ixtaccihuatl. That;’s why sometimes the volcano roars and throws smoke.

The untruthful who caused that tragedy, fled far frome the lovers, and afterward, when he died, the snow covered the body too and became “The Citlaltepetl” and from the distance contemplates the eternal lovers whom never will be separated.

Ixtaccihuatl = white woman

Popocatepetl = smoky mountain

Citlaltepetl = mountain of the star

Celebrate Literacy

shauna — Wed, 09 May 2012 16:54:29 +0000

We invite you to enjoy 12 weeks of Daily Herald home delivery . . . on us! Project Read is offering a 12-week free subscription to the Daily Herald to all of its friends and supporters to Celebrate Literacy! Please join us and invite your friends as well. Simply fill out the form below.

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Andragogy

rebekah — Fri, 04 May 2012 04:04:44 +0000

Andragogy probably isn’t a word you hear every day. But it’s an important one to know at Project Read. Andragogy refers to the way adults learn as distinguished from the way children learn. Here are some things to remember when teaching adults:

Adults are ready to learn something new not when the teacher says it’s time to learn but when they encounter different experiences in life or new social roles that require new knowledge.

Adults prefer self-directed learning because they are typically motivated by internal, rather than external factors.

Adults are problem-centered and they want to apply new learning immediately.

Adults draw on their accumulated reservoir of life experiences to aid learning.

To learn more about andragogy and other writing tips, go to TEAL’s Just Write! guide here.

Tutor of the Month

shauna — Fri, 04 May 2012 03:00:43 +0000

Jessica Porter has been volunteering with Project Read for 6 months. She is an English major at BYU and plans to become an English teacher. She found out about ProjectRead through BYU’s Y-Serve program, and began volunteering because reading and writing have been amazing gifts in her own life, and she wanted to share the gift with others. She feels like the program makes an important difference in peoples’ lives, particularly through its focus on catering to each individual’s needs, and has enjoyed meeting wonderful people through Project Read.

Student of the Month

rebekah — Fri, 04 May 2012 02:47:01 +0000

Katya Olsen is a woman of determination. When she first arrived in the United States with her husband eight years ago she did not speak a word of English. Katya enrolled in ESL classes at a local school and soon began making progress, but after several years she found that the ESL classes were no longer helping her. But when she started studying at Project Read three years ago, real progress again became evident. This progress is most seen in her recent career change. Katya works at a youth detention facility as a counselor for children, but before Project Read she was the facility’s cook. Because of her studies, she was able to pass a test and be promoted to counselor. Katya says, “I can do paperwork now. My grammar has improved so much that I write better than some of my colleagues. I can even help the kids with their homework.”

Katya is a mom to two children and a grandmother to two grandchildren. She enjoys talking to her family on Skype, cooking, and shopping. Her advice to those that are entering Project Read or struggling is to keep at it. She says, “Never give up. Project Read is here to help you. Never give up.”

Register Now!

shauna — Thu, 03 May 2012 04:17:11 +0000

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Just Write! Guide

shauna — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 19:20:32 +0000

After two years of research, Teaching Excellence in Adult Literacy (TEAL) has released a guide that helps adult basic education teachers with evidence-based writing instruction. This guide has many interesting ideas that are aimed at promoting and improving writing, the thought process around writing, and how to enhance overall instruction. Click here to go to the guide online.

Click here to view the file

Juan Acosta Writing Samples–April 2012

shauna — Wed, 18 Apr 2012 18:53:21 +0000

Sample 1:

Owning your own home is a good idea for three reasons.

Money pay out in rent is last. However, monthly house payments add up in equity, or how much of a house you own. This affects selling the house.

If you’re renting a house you can’t paint it or decorate it anyway you want. If own your own home, you can.

A landlord will be too slow to fix things, but you can repair your things or hire somebody.

So owning your own home has many advantages.

Sample 2:

I am doing many good things for my health. I don’t drink much soda. I try to eat fruits and vegetables, and others things that are good for me. I get exercise through physical labor at work.

There are things I need to improve. I need to drink more water each day. I need to get to bed earlier to get more sleep.

Even thought I’m doin several things to keep healthy, there are a few things I still need to work on.

Sample 3:

When I was in 6th grade, a kid hit me in the back of my head with a popsicle.

I hit the boy that I thought was guilty, but he said he didn’t do it. Hitting him broke some bones in my hand.

And then everybody thought my hand was ok, but I couldn’t use it. So it healed wrong.

Today however my hand works ok.

Oralia Moreno Writing Samples–April

shauna — Wed, 18 Apr 2012 17:22:26 +0000

These samples were written in response to articles she read in her tutoring manuals.

Sample 1:

Today I worked on an assembly line doing the dash board. I don’t like it because it is boring. I’d rather be driving the car. What I don’t like. Is building the cars.

Sample 2:

Insomnia
It’s a big problem nowdays for society. If you don’t have enough sleep your physically, mentally tired all the time and you can’t function. It could also lead to death so it is very important to take it very seriously because that could kill you and your family will suffer without you

Last Days

shauna — Tue, 10 Apr 2012 00:16:41 +0000

By Cristina Luna

Tomorrow is the last class at the Provo Library; I can´t believe how the time has passed, and I feel that I´m closing stages. The classes at the ELC had finished some weeks ago, the General Conference is over and the classes at the Library are going to finish tomorrow. So these things show me that is time to go back to Chile, and that makes me feel happy but sad at the same time.

I remember my first time at the Library, I was so excited to be part of the Read Project and after passing some tests the people in charge of the program began looking for someone, who would be my tutor. I never imagine how important it would be this person during my time in the U.S.

One day Sue, the director of Read Project, sent me an email, telling me that she had found a perfect tutor for me, and I had to go to meet her the next Monday.

I went that day, and I met Linda, my tutor. My first impression was she must love teaching, because she uses her leisure time helping other people.

We talk about what I wanted to learn, and then we decided to read a book. The first book was “The Giver, then we continue with “A long walk to water”, “Holes”, and finally “Three cups of tea”.

At the same time she began to help me to prepare the Toefl, so every session, we reviewed the exercises, we read the book together, and we talked about our impressions of the book; of course we also talked a lot about our experiences and daily activities, and when the class ended, she always gave me a ride till the ELC; she began to be a friend to me.

The time began to pass by. The books were finished, the exercises too, and now the classes are almost over.

I will never forget this nice person, Linda, who was a big bless for me, every class I could learn a lot, and also enjoyed the time with her.

Linda thanks for your time, disposition, and patience, thank you for your love!