Cape Cod Literacy Council

Enduring Friendship for Tutor and Student
by Vanessa R. Carbonell, Literacy Council Intern from Cape Cod Academy

Enjoying the day in Boston at the Farmers' Market, Iris and Richard pose for a photo taken by Richard's wife, Judy..

"Iris Jesus has learned English at an incredible rate," says her tutor Richard Spencer of Eastham. Iris, a twenty year old native of Sao Paulo, Brazil, has been enrolled in the Cape Cod Literacy program since September of last year.

Iris and her tutor meet weekly at the Eastham Public Library. At each session Iris brings a five hundred word essay which she edits with her tutor.

In addition, Iris reads aloud from selections written by Robert Fulgham and Jack Prelutsky. She also stretches her mind by trying to solve problems in the creative thinking game - Tangoes.

Recently, Spencer and his wife, Judy, took Iris to Boston for the day. They toured historical sites, walked through the Quincy Marketplace, and made purchases at the Farmers' Market. They enjoyed a delicious lunch at an Italian restaurant in the North End.

In February, Ms. Jesus returned to Brazil where she is planning to go to school to become a stewardess for a major airline. The friendship between the Spencers and Iris is sure to endure.

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