Volunteer English tutors play an important role in supporting immigrant and refugee students living in the Northampton, Massachusetts area. Volunteers assist with all aspects of language education as well as helping students learn more about the area in which we live. Volunteer tutors and students have the option to meet in-person or remotely. Please read below for more details about the Volunteer Tutor Program. We also have skills-based volunteer opportunities for folks with backgrounds in digital marketing and grant writing. To inquire about current skills-based opportunities, please contact the Volunteer Coordinator, Laura Robinson.
Volunteer as a Tutor
Does the idea of teaching a student the ins and outs of life in our community while helping to improve their English sound inviting to you? Do you enjoy meeting new people and discussing life? Is explaining a bit about the culture of the United States as you see it something that you’d be interested in? If so, ILI’s Volunteer Tutor Program might be for you. Here at ILI, we are always looking for folks who are interested in introducing our students to the amazing community that we are all a part of.
The Volunteer Tutor program has been proudly matching our English learners with community members since 1990. Because students come from a wide variety of countries in South America, Asia, Europe and Africa, the opportunities for cultural exchanges and learning are endless. Students range from young adults to seniors with all sorts of different backgrounds, education and work experience levels. This diversity in students allows us to create matches between students and tutors that we hope will lead to lasting positive memories and meaningful moments together.
Prepare to be a Tutor
No teaching experience? No problem! We believe that your desire to connect with students in a meaningful way is the most important factor in becoming a great tutor. Since all tutoring is done in English, all you need to bring to the table is your ability to speak, read and write fluently in English and an openness to different values and beliefs.
To get started:
- Complete the Volunteer Tutor Application
- Meet online or in-person with the Volunteer Tutor Coordinator
- Read the Volunteer Tutor Resource Manual (provided after initial meeting with the coordinator)
- Observe an ESOL class online or in-person
- Complete a Reflection Form
Ongoing Training and Support
Tutors are invited to attend monthly volunteer meetings. These meetings are a time to connect with other volunteers and learn about new resources and activities to enhance your tutoring skills. ILI volunteers also receive a monthly newsletter, invitations to free professional development opportunities, and have access to an online bank of tutoring resources.
Commitment
As an ILI tutor, we ask that you make at least a 4-month commitment to our program. This includes a minimum of one session per week, usually 45-60 minutes in length. ILI will connect you with a student and you will be able to negotiate the schedule and location of your time together directly with one another. If you and the student are meeting virtually (ex: Zoom, Google Meet, Skype), the tutor is responsible for setting up the meeting and sharing the directions for joining with the student.
A Day in the Life of a Tutor
Tutors work with students in a one-on-one environment and can choose to meet at ILI, out and about in the community, or online. As a tutor, you may find yourself acting as a mentor and helping your student practice daily survival skills, while supporting their adjustment to their new culture. You may answer questions that a student has about English skills, a class they are taking, or life in the US. Every student is different with different goals, but in general, you can expect to practice speaking, listening, conversation, reading and writing with your student. If you ever need further inspiration, the Volunteer Coordinator is happy to give you some ideas of what to work on depending on the student’s needs and goals.