PLEASE READ BEFORE YOU APPLY
- Working Holiday Visa and Tourist Visa holders do not qualify for our English Learning Services.
- Learners and Tutors MUST be 19 years or older to apply.
- It may take 2-3 weeks to contact you for your assessment interview. Our services are in very high demand.
- If you require English lessons immediately, you may need to seek out these other services (most charge a fee):
- Our four staff members are working as fast as we can to process applicants. Please do not reapply. Once you submit an application, you are in our system and will be contacted as soon as possible. Thank you so much for your patience!
Important Information:
Questions | Answers |
What services does Project Literacy offer? | English Tutoring Math Tutoring Financial Tutoring Digital Literacy for Seniors (65 years+) Children’s In-school Reading |
Is this a class setting or one on one? | One on one. You get your very own VOLUNTEER tutor! |
How much do you cost? | Our services are FREE, thanks to the generosity of our volunteer tutors! |
Where are you located? | 1635 Bertram Street in downtown Kelowna, behind Safeway and in the same plaza as 96.3FM and KCR Community Resources. |
Can I bring my child/children to my lesson? | No. As much as we adore children, for the sake of your learning, children are not permitted during your lesson times. Please arrange for child care during the time of your lesson so you can maximize your time here and you and your volunteer tutor can focus together. |
Where should I park when coming to Project Literacy? | Click here for details about parking in our area. |
How long will it take to schedule my English assessment? | It could take up to 2-3 weeks to get your appointment as we are very popular within the Okanagan. Please be patient with our team. We are working as fast as we can. |
How long will it take to get matched with a tutor? | Every match is different. It depends on personality, background, learning/teaching level, location, availability and specific needs. But it could take 1-3 months to be matched due to how many applicants seek our free services. |
How long does the tutoring last? | Up to 2 years. So please use this time wisely! |
Who decides my lesson schedule? | You do! The tutor and learner will figure out what works best for both of them. |
How long are each lessons and how many times per week? | Lessons are usually 1-2 hours per week, 1-2 days a week. This is determined between you and your volunteer. |
What happens if I can’t make my lesson? | You should contact your Tutor and let them know at least 24 hours before your lesson. Please note that if a learner does not arrive for a scheduled appointment without notifying their tutor two times, their case will come under review and you may be asked to leave the program. We take our tutors generous time very seriously. |
Do you help Canadians who were born here? | Absolutely! |
Do you help with IELTS? | Yes! |
Do you help with CELPIP? | Yes! |
Do you help with studying for a Driver’s License? | Yes! |
Do you help with PR (Permanent Residence)? | Yes! |
Do you help with a Canadian Citizenship Test? | Yes! |
Do you help with taxes? | No. Please reach out to https://central-okanagan.pathwaysbc.ca/specific_services/649 for assistance. |
Do you help with understanding legal documents? | No. Please reach out to https://legalaid.bc.ca/ for assistance. |
Where do we learn? | You can book a room at Project Literacy, meet at your local library or hang out at a local café! NOTE: For safety and comfort reasons, meeting at each other’s homes is not an option. |
Do you offer remote learning? | Yes but it depends on our roster of tutors/learners and how comfortable they are with online teaching. |
How can I give back to Project Literacy? | There are many ways you can support our community literacy programs: Click here to donate to Project Literacy. Click here for Project Literacy’s Merchandise Shop! |
“Since joining Project Literacy, I have learned new vocabulary, my pronunciation has improved and I feel more confident in my work and in my life. I am so lucky to have Linda Hawker as my tutor. She is professional, friendly, very knowledgeable and the time goes by very quickly when I am learning with her. She always has a nice smile and I am very grateful to her.”
Laura Hernandez, English Learner
March 2024 Learner of the Month
“Now, thanks to the classes and the fact that I have more confidence, I found a job as a Chef in a restaurant, and it is now easier for me to communicate with my colleagues. My long-term goal is to know the English language at such a level that I can work in a profession that I really love. I want to thank the team at Project Literacy for their help and professionalism. With your help I get knowledge and I always leave my class in a good mood.”
Tetiana Anisimova, English Learner
November 2023 Learner of the Month
“The Digital literacy program offered by the Project Literacy Central Okanagan Society is a perfect way for seniors who have avoided Technology like the plague to be introduced to cell phones in an informal informative environment. Seniors have various reasons for not joining the technological revolution but at some point everyone faces the realization that rotary dial phones are not coming back and modern methods of communication are not only here to stay but are evolving daily!
You have to start somewhere and relying on your 14 year old grandson is not the answer. Options are limited but the Project literacy digital literacy program provides a very viable opportunity. The training consists of six one-hour sessions with a knowledgeable volunteer tutor. The sessions are very informal and cover the basics. You will learn to make and receive phone calls, send and receive texts, use your camera and get an introduction into apps, As the training is informal there is not a set curriculum and you can ask any question you like. There are no exams so those adverse to tests need not fear. The object is to learn as much as you can so you can join the revolution.
I took the training and I’m happy I did so!!”
John C. Hough, Digital Learner
February Learner of the Month