Literacy Volunteers of Gloucester, Inc., and the Virginia Institute of Marine Science have teamed up over recent months to help international students at VIMS become better communicators.

Though the VIMS students all read and speak English, they had expressed frustration with their overall communication skills, according to an LVG release.

Linda Shaffner, associate dean of academic studies at the Gloucester Point campus, along with LVG board president Cynthia Geisert and LVG volunteers, developed a plan in the early spring to help these learners improve their understanding of the English language and American culture.

LVG volunteer Jim Hutchins developed methods to address their needs, according to LVG spokesperson Terri Byrne. They meet weekly to help each other become better readers and speakers.  

“The students find the group discussions helpful in defining their problems, common experiences addressing those problems and possible solutions,” Byrne said. This sum...