ESL Tutor (refugee adults)
LOCATION
SCHEDULE OPTIONS
Semester availability
FallSpring
Summer
Service hours
MorningAfternoon
Available days/hours
Students may plan their hours on a flexible schedule that will coincide with the needs of the client. The classes taught can be scheduled anytime during the week.
REQUIRED/DESIRED SKILLS
Students are not required to have previous English teaching experience and need not speak a foreign language. We welcome students from all disciplines of study, those who have lived abroad, worked interculturally, and speak an array of foreign languages. Interested students should be motivated self-starters with an excellent work ethic and a heart for working with vulnerable populations.
Other requirements include:
- Ability to communicate effectively verbally and in writing
- Relatability to children and families from other cultures
- Ability to teach language in fun and interactive ways to improve retention
- Cultural sensitivity and compassion for refugee families
- Ability to be flexible to accommodate the needs of the learner
- Fluency in Enlglish
- Maturity
- Ability to work autonomously
CATEGORIES
AdultsEducation
English as a Second Language
Refugees
Social Services
COMMUNITY PARTNER
Lutheran Social Services of the Southwest Refugee & Immigration Services
ABOUT THE INTERNSHIP
Duties
As an ELT Tutor you will:
- Provide small group lessons in English as a second language for refugee clients
- Provide instruction and curriculum with guidance from LSS-SW staff
- Plan interactive activities designed to improve English vocabulary, speaking, writing and reading skills
- Help clients with assigned ELT homework as needed
- Provide a safe environment for practicing English language conversation
- Assess the needs of the client in relation to English language learning and alert LSS-SW staff of any barriers to education. Monitor client progress
While some parts of the internship are structured, there is plenty of room for you to add your creativity and develop your teaching style.
Population served
LSS-SW Refugee and Immigration Services serve refugees of many different nationalities and ethnicities. Some of the largest populations we serve include Bhutanese, Burmese, Iraqi, Iranian, and those from various African countries. All of these groups have fled their countries due to persecution or fear because of their ethnicity, religion, membership in a social group or even political opinion.
The clients we serve come to the United States after many years in refugee camps. They require basic social services to transition to their new lives in the United States and education in English language and other skills. English is an integral part of their resettlement process. Few clients who do not speak English can successfully find employment and attain quality of life for themselves and their families after years of violence, trauma and the struggle to survive with meager resources.
Community need/impact
LSS-SW Refugee and Immigration Services serves approximately 600 newly arrived refugees each year. One of the biggest needs of clients resettling in the United States is learning English. For adults, learning a new language can pose a great challenge at an older age. For clients who have never received formal education this can be even more challenging.
Because English language competency is necessary for most employment in the United States, clients require special assistance practicing material from the formal ESL classes offered through our agency. Without ESL instruction and tutoring, clients will face greater difficulty becoming self-sufficient.
The goal of resettlement is to provide clients with tools to help them gain independence and become successful in their new lives in the United States. Many of the adults we serve require assistance through education and skill building not only for themselves, but for the survival of their families.
The efforts of the intern will positively affect clients in gaining more competencies in English language. The improvement of clients in this area will assist the resettlement services in increasing client eligibility in employment and consequently in obtaining self-sufficiency at a more rapid rate.
