MOUNTLAKE TERRACE — Saul Snatsky never knows who his next student might be.
That suits him just fine. He welcomes them all Tuesday evenings inside the Mountlake Terrace Library.
“How often do you get to meet someone from Russia, Korea and Japan?” Snatsky said. “You’re bound to learn a little something about their culture.”
Snatsky, 71, volunteers two hours a week as a Talk Time leader at the library. The drop-in sessions are for adults who want to practice speaking English.
Snatsky, of Kenmore, retired about 11 years ago from his job as a computer programmer. His wife finds things for him to do and she saw an ad for the opening at the library.
It was a good fit for Snatsky. He enjoys languages and the insight they offer into how people think. He learned German, and he and Spanish have been locked in battle for years.
“I understand what it’s like to be on the other side of the table,” Snatsky said. “I know what it’s like to fish around for a word.”
He also understands that his students aren’t there pursuing a hobby.
“They must learn English or forever be isolated in this country,” he said.
Snatsky’s parents were immigrants. His dad was born in Poland. He was 12 when he moved to the U.S. and he didn’t speak English. In school, he was put in classes with much younger students until he learned the language. Snatsky’s mother was a toddler when her family came from Lithuania via England.
Snatsky hopes he can ease some of the anxiety for the students. They work on proper pronunciation and common expressions. He focuses less on grammar lessons. He wants to give the students a chance to speak in a safe setting. He encourages their progress as they wrestle with tongue-twisting constant constructions and vowels whose sounds seem to change without rhyme or reason.
“I tell them never to say their English is bad, just that it’s improving,” Snatsky said.
Many students have been through a community college program. They know the grammar inside and out but when it comes to speaking the language practice is key.
Snatsky doesn’t teach the students any curse words. “They can look those up,” he said.
Talk Time sessions are offered throughout Sno-Isle Libraries’ 21 branches.
Snatsky “is so committed to serving our immigrant population. If he goes on vacation, he makes sure we have coverage,” said Kristin Piepho, the managing librarian in Mountlake Terrace.
Volunteers like Snatsky are investing a lot of their time for the benefit of the community. Not only are they teaching classes but they’re also building rapport with students, Piepho said.
Every year more than 600 people volunteer at the Sno-Isle Libraries. Last year they volunteered a total of 23,333 hours, said Nancy Pursel, who oversees the volunteer programs.
The youngest volunteer is 10 and he and his dad straighten books and tidy up shelves. Other volunteers wash and disinfect children’s books. “We appreciate every single one of our volunteers,” Pursel said.
Snatsky calls himself a cheerleader, encouraging people so they feel more confident about a trip to the grocery store or talking to their child’s teacher.
“I’m so glad I have an opportunity to do this,” Snatsky said. “I feel like I’m giving back to the community. So much has been given to me.”
Diana Hefley: 425-339-3463; hefley@heraldnet.com. Twitter: @dianahefley.
Volunteer
To learn more about volunteer opportunities, go to the Sno-Isle Libraries website at http://sno-isle.org or call your local library. Applications are available online.
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