Health Literacy is the degree to which individuals have the capacity to obtain, process, and understand basic health information and services needed to make appropriate health decisions. (Healthy People 2010).

As a literacy tutor, you can help your students increase their health literacy and become more familiar with their English as it relates to their health. Whether it’s talking to the doctor about symptoms and anatomy or learning how to navigate the health care system, immigrants and refugees need your help. Don’t worry, you don’t need to be a health expert. The links here will give you some tips for talking about topics you may or may not know a lot about and LLC’s Health Literacy Program Coordinator is available to help you and your student find information you need.

Below, you’ll find our resources to help you teach your students English as it relates to their health:

Best Practices for Being a Literacy Tutor
So you want to be a tutor - how about some guidance to help you along the way? Click here for some key information and best practices to assist you in developing a curriculum that will help immigrant adults improve their health literacy.

Sample Talking Points
As a literacy tutor, preparation is key. Having a few talking points in place that help focus your sessions with students can be extremely useful. Click here for a few samples to help you get started.

Additional Resources
Need some help sorting through all of the data out there? Click here for a list of the best and most relevant resources for you to use as a tutor.

Interested in learning more about specific health subjects? Check out the links below for a comprehensive guide on the following areas.