Orientation Teacher (adult refugees)

COMMUNITY PARTNER

Lutheran Social Services of the Southwest Refugee & Immigration Services

ABOUT THE INTERNSHIP

Duties

You will have the option of teaching Cultural Orientation and/or Employment Orientation as follows:

1. Cultural Orientation
1. One day (3 hour) class that gives clients a brief overview of American culture and community life. Topics covered include: location, American norms, greetings, housing, education system, safety in the community and community resources. Clients are encouraged to interact through answering questions, practicing greeting and conducting role plays. Interpretation is provided.
2. Field Trips: supplemental to the lessons taught during Cultural Orientation, you will identify, organize and implement field trip opportunities for our clients (examples include: library, bus station, post office, grocery store, etc.). Organizing and conducting the Burton Barr library field trip will be the focus. A valid fingerprint clearance card is required for this portion.
2. Employment Orientation
1. Day I: Three hour class that focuses on the job search in the US and interview success. Topics covered include: timeliness, how to look for a job (in the community and on line), asking for applications, filling out applications, hygiene, appropriate dress, sample interview questions, identifying skills and how to "sell yourself" in an interview. Class is interactive, with clients answering questions and conducting role plays. Interpretation is provided.
2. Day II: Three hour class that focuses on the US work environment. Topics covered include: timeliness, workplace behavior (supervisor, coworkers, customers), importance of going to work every day and calling in when there is an emergency, hygiene, appropriate dress/uniforms, behavior for promotion and being a good reliable worker. It also covers importance of having a job, working with employment specialists and the need to take the first job available. Class is interactive, with clients answering questions and conducting role plays. Interpretation is provided.
3. Field trip to the local thrift shops: supplemental to material learned on both days, clients will be taken to Desseret and Wheat Silo thrift stores to purchase interview appopriate clothes. 
3. Interview Skills
1. One-one or one-small group mock interview sessions where clients can practice standard interview questions and develop their interviewing skills. Since this is for our English speaking clients, interpretation will not be provided.

There is a detailed curriculm (PPP and speaking points) for each session that you will be able to use. The ASB Coordinator will train you and help you along the way. You are not expected to know any of the material already, but since a lot of the informaiton is basic, you will likely already know most of the topics covered.

On a weekly basis you will be responsible for:

• Instructing the class using the existing PPP materils (direct service)
• Keeping attendance
• Reporting any concerns to the ASB Coordinator
• Gauging client understanding and expanding orientation curriculum as necessary
• Creating, initiating and implementing field trip opportunties (valid fingerprint clearance card required if you choose this option)

Population served

Lutheran Social Services Refugee and Immigration Services provides resettlement services to clients from countries that include: Iraq, Iran, Bhutan, Burma, Congo, Eritrea, Somalia, Cuba and more. LSS-SW Refugee and Immigration Services serves approximately 600 newly arrived refugees each year.

You will likely work with some or all of these ethnic groups. Each ethnic group has specific needs during their resettlement based on their education and work history as well as their unique experiences as refugees. All clients require assistance with learning English, connecting with their new community and helpful resources as well as contact with American citizens.

Community need/impact

The internship will directly assist newly arriving refugee families with:

• Acclimating to American culture
• Learning about their new community in Phoenix
• Better understanding the management of finances
• Importance of employment and how to find it
• Understanding American work culture

All of the endeavors of this position will provide much needed exposure to English language. Other field trips in the community will provide an opportunity for refugee families to feel more comfortable navigating the area and accessing necessary services. Field trips will also be a great place for clients to practice lessons learned in class and English language in real word situations.

Many of our clients come from camps where they haven't had any access to the services offered in the US or exposure to big cities. The Aduls Skill Building Orientations strive to help clients get the skills necessary to be successful in their new environments.

You will have a very rewarding experience while working directly with clients. It is very easy to see the positive impact on our refugee clients when knowledge is shared and specifically designed to improve their quality of life.