Honoring the Maxwells
If a community is fortunate enough to be the home of such generous, personable, and kind-hearted people as Ron and Mary Maxwell, then it should reserve a time to celebrate them.
Countdown to the Spelling Bee
The 20th Anniversary of the Ron and Mary Maxwell Community Spelling Bee is right around the corner, making this a very lively and exciting time at Mid-State Literacy Council. The Spelling Bee is just one of Mid-State’s special events that gives the community a chance to celebrate literacy and recognize the organization’s goals.
Priyanka
One goal shared by many of the students at Mid-State Literacy Council is to increase confidence when conversing with native English speakers. Priyanka, a young woman from India, works in a local restaurant in downtown State College.
Maria Suarez
Maria lived in Cuba her entire life until moving to Miami, Florida two years ago to be with her sisters. She recently moved to State College to live with her daughter who is pursuing her Ph.D. from Penn State University. She started learning English only one year ago and began by watching television shows and YouTube videos.
Looks Do Matter!
A very important concept for getting a reluctant reader to want to read is how a book looks. This is the importance of design. The five features are: book shape and size; binding, dust jacket, cover and end papers; page layout; typography; and paper and ink.
Interview with Wencheng Wang
Wencheng Wang enrolled in the TOEFL Prep program this past fall to accelerate his English. A visiting scholar at Penn State in the field of Traffic Planning, Wencheng began learning English when he was only eleven years old as part of China’s education system.
Semester Highlights
It's hard to believe that the fall program is wrapping up. It's been a great season. We welcomed both new and returning students this autumn from all parts of the world – India, Ukraine, Korea, Saudi Arabia, Colombia, China, Costa Rica, Russia, Turkey, Egypt, and many others!
Tutor Spotlight: Nicole Laurent
Volunteering at Mid-State Literacy Council is a nice break during the week for Nicole, a Penn State senior majoring in Immunology and Infectious Disease. She describes it as “beneficial” and “a good use of her time.”
How Can I Help My Student or Child Read
What do Fred McKissack and Albert Einstein have in common? I think you will be surprised but this is my daily mantra. Read this quote and you will understand why you need to rush right out to your library and get one of Patricia and Fred McKissack’s books, Goin’ Someplace Special.
Students moving toward citizenship meet with Mayor Hahn
Students in the Citizenship class at Mid-State Literacy Council are learning about the history and government system in the US. What better way to reinforce their learning than to meet the mayor of State College.