Martha Bequette

Disciple of Literacy

Martha Bequette has been a life-long lover of books, a devotee to reading and a disciple of literacy. Having lived all over the country, her first act upon moving to a new town is always the acquisition of a public library card. Martha was originally an English major and every subsequent phase of her career-which includes having been the head of the book division for the National Association of Homebuilders and assistant to the publisher of the same organization's trade magazine-dealt in some way with reading.

Literacy has worked for Martha. Now she wants to help others make it work for them. During the last six years she has donated her time as a tutor for Literacy Volunteers of the Lowcountry, a non-profit organization committed to equipping adults with the reading, writing, math and speaking skills they need to be successful. Martha chose to work in the English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) program and has proved such a dedicated tutor that she was named the 2008 Volunteer of the Year.

"When I went into the program, I had no clue that I would be dealing with Japanese marine wives," said Martha, who has tutored a total of fifteen women, all of them from Japan. "I ask you to kind of imagine their situation: They fall in love with a handsome American marine, and then they come here. They've had English in school, but they get here and it's not that easy."

Martha does more than just help the women improve their conversational skills; she helps them to navigate a foreign cultural landscape that can be as baffling as it is exciting. Her students may need help with grammar or vocabulary issues, but just as often they come to her with questions about everyday life and the difficulties they face as immigrants. Many of them undergo the additional hardship of having their husbands deployed. Martha focuses on the common experiences she shares with them as women and is always finding creative ways to make the lessons come alive. One day she might take them to an American tea house and lead an in-depth discussion about how it differs from a formal Japanese tea; the next day she's telling jokes to help them grasp American humor.

Though each individual woman's goal may vary slightly-one wants to get her driver's license while another wants to "speak elegant English," and still another wants to surprise her husband with improved communication when he returns from overseas-the overall concept is the same: Literacy is the ticket to a richer existence.

"If people don't understand them, it can be frustrating for them and even a little embarrassing," said Martha, who corresponds avidly with grateful former students who have since moved away. "I respect them because they are all very beautiful, very intelligent and highly motivated women. I enjoy them thoroughly and it enriches me immensely to do this."


Up Close

Hometown: Palo Alto, PA Came to the Lowcountry: 1991 Hobbies: reading (of course) Family includes: husband Jim and their combined six children, plus her 96-year-old mother who lives with them and also loves to read Member of: American Association of University Women book group (she's already read all of next years reading list "but it's only one a month"); a study group in Charleston and Fripp Island that looks exclusively at the works of philosopher Rudolf Steiner Favorite author: Tolstoy; "Reading "War and Peace" in bed is really hard on the wrists, but now and then I do it all over again," and "Anna Karenina needs to be reread every now and then to test your level of maturity." True confession: "The books are going to run us out of the house!"