Tutoring Kids

After four months of staying here in Canada, I have decided to take on a new volunteer experience that is somewhat related to occupational therapy.   Tutoring kids with learning disabilities!  I saw the advertisement made by the Learning Disabilities Association of British Columbia - Fraser South (LDAFS) in the newspaper and decided to call them up a month ago.  Truthfully, I have filed for two (2) volunteer jobs but the other one was pushed back in November and I didn't know the status of my application in Red Cross.  In the end, I decided to go for this one first as Miss Kenny Leung of Red Cross has told me that I could re-apply again when my availability changes.  Red Cross needs two weekdays to make things work but things just didn't work out.  They were very kind to call me after a week (Miss Leung was out of town when I called). They don't plan to give me up and I don't plan to give them up either.  

Day of interview (was too early so I took some pics)

So after the information night, I went for the personal interview and passed!  Yey!  The interviewer told me that I don't have much foreign accent and that that is an asset I certainly can bring to the tutoring.  That perked up my self-esteem.  You know, to have someone tell you your good points is very reassuring.  I told her though that sometimes my Filipino accent does come out when I am really nervous.   After that, she told me to work a little bit on my printing (writing) because I will have to teach kids how to write too!  Hahaha  assertiveness at its finest!  At that moment, I thought to myself, THIS IS MY GOAL!  She has mastered the art of assertiveness.  Anyway, I just laughed internally.

Henceforth, training was conducted once a week every Saturday for three weeks.  Everyone got to introduce themselves again like how we did during the information night.  The people I've acquainted with during that day had varied reasons on why they wanted to volunteer and mysteriously, I felt a sense of belonging.  Kind of funny aye?  Different people from different places with varied stories at their backs come together to advocate literacy.  Upon realization, I almost cried.  Belonging has certainly been a feeling I have not sensed in a long time.  The luxury of friends has yet to come and although I know they are just acquaintances...somehow it just felt right.

(And the free muffins are awesome too!  Hooray for free food!)

Individual guidebooks given to tutors 

My nametag on the left and just a little picture of the guidebook

Last week, I decided to finally get my Criminal Record Check at the police station.  I worried that they might have a body check so I decided to do it at last minute.  That nasty bruise on my right antecubital area has finally receded!  Yes!  Thankfully, they did not have a body check as I imagined they would.  When I told them the story, they laughed  hahaha!  Oh and I also met someone who was jailed for 72 hours when I was waiting for the bus.  He was pretty happy about being let out.  Good for him :)

Getting my Criminal Record Check from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police

Tomorrow is my first day of tutoring and I certainly hope to make a good impression on the kids.  Preparing some stuff for rapport can never fail you :)  I was thinking of doing magic tricks like Jess would.  Going to pack up on confidence too!

If you have time please do check out their site and learn more about their advocacy!

LDAFS logo (@^-^@)