Volunteer Opportunities
Are you ready to make a difference for someone living anywhere in the world who needs the gift of learning English? A student is waiting just for you. Being a volunteer gives a gift that is far-reaching and lasts a lifetime. The rewards are immeasurable.
1-1 Tutor
Work one-on-one with adult learners seeking to speak, read, write, and understand English, and help them to identify and reach real-life goals such as obtaining a GED, applying for a job, or reading with their children and grandchildren. Tutors commit to one-hour sessions twice weekly for a minimum of 6 months.
English Conversation
Provide support to adults by practicing English conversation. Many of our students lack the self-confidence to speak English in public places and need the practice to strengthen conversational skills. This opportunity has a more flexible time commitment.
GED Preparation
This program offers study support for GED or high-school equivalency in order to increase gainful employment opportunities. Volunteers in this class help mainly with math, however, other topics include social studies, science, and language.
Parents with ESL schoolchildren
The learners are adults with school children also learning English. This class focuses on family literacy. Volunteers in this class help the parent acquire the language skills to speak English with their children’s teachers and medical personnel without interpreters.
U.S. Citizenship Class
You will be trained in how to help legal immigrants obtain citizenship, and materials that cover the specific information on the Citizenship exam.
Event/Workshop Volunteer
Assist our staff with fun events such as fundraisers, volunteer recruitment events, and outreach activities.
ELL volunteers must:
- Be at least 18 years of age
- Have strong verbal communication skills
- Agree to a criminal background check
- Attend a one-hour, online virtual Volunteer Orientation & Training
- Have cultural sensitivity to people of diverse backgrounds
- All tutors must attend monthly question & answer (Q&A) Zoom meetings per invitation
Onboarding & Training
Onboarding and training activities can be scheduled during the days and times of your convenience. Tutors will be coached on all the tools required to support their students, and supplied all learning materials.
Volunteer Tutor FAQs
We require a commitment of 1 to 2 or more hours a week. Meeting days and times are flexible according to your availability. This schedule allows the learners to make progress rapidly which is more fun for the tutors.
Tutors and students usually set a schedule that works mutually for them. Due to Covid-19 Pandemic, we have converted all our programs from IN-Home to AT-Home via the Internet. At this time, all ESL tutoring for beginners, conversational English groups, GED preparation, and U.S. citizenship study is being conducted via Zoom, Skype, FaceTime, and phone until further notice.
As Covid-19 restrictions begin lifting, some ELL tutors and students may wish to begin meeting in person. Tutors will be matched with a student convenient to the tutor’s home or workplace. Most tutors go to the student’s home or meet at the tutor’s home. Public sites are also available such as the local library.
To adhere with current CDC guidelines, all tutors are required to obtain a signed waiver from ALL students who wish to resume in-person learning. For more information, please contact Florence G. Phillips at 775-888-2021 or [email protected].
We ask that tutors plan to work with students on an on-going basis or however long they can (minimum 6 months). This is a very flexible program. When a tutor needs time off for vacation, illness, etc. the tutor notifies the student in advance as well as the student notifies the tutor in advance if a cancellation is necessary.
Most tutors teach one or two adult learners and some have a class of 2-5 maximum. The relationship and trust is an important part of the learning process. The tutors will provide English skills and encourage the learners to set language goals. If a tutor or learner does not feel compatible, a new match can be arranged.
The materials and methods we use support non-professionals who have never taught before. It is practical and very “user-friendly”. We prefer tutors who have had at least a High School education. It is not required to have teaching experience nor knowledge of a foreign language.
GED tutors are responsible for teaching basic skills to students with varying academic levels while integrating GED skills, reading and math skills, social justice and community issues, and culture. You will help students meet necessary goals and qualify to get a GED. We provide the instructional material at no charge.
Primary responsibilities:
- Teach basic skills encompassing math, science, English, and literature.
- Help students prepare and study for GED exam.
- Assess students’ readiness to take exam.
- Maintain grade books.
- Develop incentives to keep participants in class.
- Utilize public library resources.
- Tutor students on an individual basis or in small groups of 2-5
- Observe and evaluate student’s performance.
