A local organization teaching fundamentals of the English language is trying to eliminate communication boundaries from within the area.

The Literacy Volunteers of Coconino County (LVCC), a non-profit organization currently situated in downtown Flagstaff, is an institution established to help those who wish to improve their English fluency.

Established in 1992, the LVCC has served to help people with literacy problems, along with those learning English as a second language. Currently enlisting more than 200 volunteers and students, the organization believes literacy problems are a setback not only for Flagstaff, but for the country as a whole.

“There are problems across the board,” said Ann Beck, executive director of the organization. “Literacy is essential for the future success of our nation, and we’re slipping.”

Beck, who has been involved with the organization since 1999, believes the organization stays up to speed on new trends in education — trends that help accommodate students of all ages and demands.

What started as merely one-on-one tutoring sessions between students and their volunteers has blossomed into classes, sometimes including as many as 15 students.

Classes are taught by volunteers like Christine Glover, a former English teacher. Glover, a member of the LVCC team since last August, believes the experience is equally satisfying for both students and teachers.

“Being able to volunteer to help non-English speakers is very rewarding,” Glover said. “I realize what a need there is.”

A typical day in one of Glover’s classes starts out rather informally. Much of the conversation is in Spanish, despite the class’ mixed ethnicities, which includes people of French, Japanese and Vietnamese descent, between the ages of 25 and 40. Some arrive late after dropping off their children at school, others from jobs at local hotels.

Once Glover has settled her students down, she begins by writing a paragraph on the board from an oceanography book so she can incorporate “as many skills in one time as you can.”

From there, she lets her students call out what errors they see, errors that Glover intentionally left. In addition, she explains any terms deemed too complicated. Questions are then freely asked, and conversation often drifts off into discussion about specific terms rather than their actual meaning, which Glover feels is necessary.

“They have to be comfortable and relaxed,” she said, speaking of her students. “They come here voluntarily…and wouldn’t come to a threatening kind of environment.”

There is lack of tension at the LVCC, though. This is largely thanks to the organization’s separation from governmental ties, which allows for a bit more freedom in the way that LVCC is run. Due to the vote that denied proper education to immigrants without documentation for residency, the LVCC pulled away from government funding, Beck said. This allowed for a completely discriminatory-free environment.

“Our strength is our flexibility,” Beck said. “(Also,) our response to the learner.”

Since government money is out of the picture, the organization has to rely on other willing organizations for funding. This situation is handled properly, as LVCC compensates with funding from both the United Way and local organizations throughout the community, such as the Flagstaff Community Foundation, Forest Highlands and the Raymond Education Foundation of Flagstaff.

Along with this comes the support of an “amazingly generous community,” as described by Beck.

Beck said there is “a little bit more (money) and activity” in bigger cities, but the college atmosphere serves to help the organization in ways other towns could not.

NAU has been an undying source for countless volunteers for the organization, each with their own distinct qualities to bring to the table. For instance, the public relations program is helping to spread the word, while the English department is supplying interns. Regardless of specialization, Beck insists volunteers must be committed.

“(Perspective volunteers need to) do a little soul-searching,” Beck says. “They need to be ready for the commitment.”

Laura Bohland, program manager for the LVCC, oversees the recruitment and training of volunteers, as well as the testing for potential students. Bohland, who has worked as a LVCC staff person for six years, believes volunteers are necessary due to the illiteracy that continues to plague our community.

“I was floored that you can get through college and not put a sentence together,” she said. “I don’t think it has improved.”

Information regarding the LVCC can be found by visiting www.lvccreads.org.