Tutor Spotlight: Tom & Dorothy Wiswall
This dynamic duo has brought twice the dedication, heart, and impact to our tutoring program. As a husband-and-wife team, Tom and Dorothy Wiswall have generously shared their talents for over 10 years, supporting students to reach their reading and language goals. Their collaborative spirit, kindness, and unwavering commitment have created a positive and encouraging learning environment for everyone they work with.
Literacy Buffalo Niagara is so grateful for the compassion and consistency they bring — thank you both for being such an inspiring team and congratulations on being our October Tutor Spotlight!
What inspired you to volunteer for Literacy Buffalo Niagara?
Dorothy: I was a German Professor and liked language teaching, so I was inspired to teach English as a second language.
Tom: Dorothy told me how interesting this teaching is, so I thought I would like to try it, too. I’m glad I did.
What has been the biggest surprise about being a volunteer tutor?
We have been surprised at how hard it is for adult students to learn English.
Share a success story you are proud of.
Our current students, two Buddhist monks from Thailand, started English from scratch, but have been motivated to acquire a pretty good familiarity with basic English vocabulary and grammar rules. We are proud of what they have accomplished and of their persistence.
An earlier student, Ahmet from Iraq, was able to become a US citizen after his studies with LBN. That showed real success, too. Teaching our students through LBN is a personally rewarding experience for us.
What important lesson have you learned as a tutor?
It is important to have new and interesting things for the students to do during their lessons.
Do you have any tips for other tutors?
Try to keep each lesson light and humorous. Avoid criticism and give the students praise instead.
What do you enjoy doing when you are not tutoring?
Dorothy: I enjoy family gatherings, meditating, and reading.
Tom: I enjoy playing the cello, exercising, and singing in the Grand Island Community Chorus with Dorothy and other members.
