Introduction

Lee University’s English as a Second Language (ESL) Family
Literacy Program has a dual purpose: to help develop within the non
English speaking participants the knowledge, understanding, ability and skills necessary to prepare them for productive living in the Cleveland/Bradley County community, while providing opportunity for college students to engage in meaningful community service.

As a recipient of the Dollar General Grant Program, our program provides English language tutoring to non-native English speakers in the local community.  Lee University students, staff and faculty serve as volunteer tutors.  The program provides an excellent opportunity for interaction between ESL participants from diverse cultures and Lee volunteers.  Lee University students who volunteer may receive one service credit on their academic transcripts; the service credit system was recently instituted as part of the Poeima Project, a campus wide service learning initiative.

In this booklet, we have included essays and poems written by non-native English students in tutoring sessions during the 2003-04 academic year.  We would like to thank Dollar General for the grant and each of the volunteers who make this service to the community possible.

Phebe X. Gray, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of TESOL