The Orange County Literacy Council will hold an English as a Second Language training Tuesday, January 8, 2008 from 9:00 a.m to noon at the Seymour Center at 2551 Homestead Rd. in Chapel Hill.  Attendees will learn how to help non-native English speakers improve their conversational, reading and writing skills in order to become better informed and able to participate in the community.  No experience is necessary.

Lunch is available for anyone who makes a lunch reservation by 1 p.m. on January 7. For lunch, those 60 and over will need to complete an application. Contributions welcome. For those people age 59 and under, lunch is $4 and no application is required.

Potential tutors begin by attending an intensive program that includes lectures, self-paced computer sessions and role-playing activities. After the training, you will be placed as either a small-group leader or an assistant for our spring semester.

Due to high demand for classes the literacy council and the Seymour Center are partnering to make them available to more people. The center will provide space for training and actual tutoring to take place. The literacy council will train volunteers and coordinate the program using its newly developed curriculum. Interested volunteers of any age can contact the on-site RSVP 55+ Volunteer Program, Vicki Hill, 968-2056 to register or visit www.orangeliteracy.org. For lunch reservations, call 968-2070 ext. 248.