Volunteers have always been at the heart of the International Language Institute (ILI), from our all-volunteer Board of Directors to dedicated community tutors. Currently in the spotlight is Jeanne Barron, who has been serving as ILI’s Volunteer Coordinator for the past 18 months. She’s been instrumental in enriching and expanding the tutor program. You can learn more about her here: ILI Staff – Jeanne Barron.
Championing Effective Tutoring
Jeanne brings a diverse set of skills to her role. She oversees tutor recruitment and training, collaborates with ILI instructors to pinpoint students needing extra support, and thoughtfully pairs them with volunteer tutors. She also oversees a continually updated resource-rich tutor website offering tutorial guides, teacher-training materials, tech tips, and past newsletters. Plus, Jeanne provides real-time support, helping tutors tackle cultural hurdles, learning obstacles, and creative ideas in their partnerships.
Moments of Connection & Laughter
Jeanne shared a few powerful anecdotes from her coordination work. One tutor had early challenges with a beginner student who often missed sessions and leaned too heavily on Google Translate, but she found great fulfillment in working with both student and tutor to overcome these hurdles and said that they “laughed a lot” during the process. Another tutor-student pair bonded over cooking a Lebanese meal together. The tutor hosted friends, the student brought a buddy, resulting in a heartfelt blend of culinary and cultural exchange. As Jeanne puts it, “laughter is the staff of life,” and these shared experiences beautifully illustrate the deeper bonds formed in tutoring relationships gazettenet.com.
The Rewards of Volunteering at ILI
In brief, volunteers at ILI gain far more than just teaching experience:
- They forge meaningful personal connections.
- They learn about diverse cultures while helping others feel at home.
- They receive ongoing training, a suite of resources, and the enthusiastic support of Jeanne and the ILI team.
- They contribute significantly to a welcoming, inclusive community in Northampton and beyond.
Intrigued? You can read Jeanne’s full essay “The Sweet Spot: Volunteering to Tutor an Immigrant” and discover more about the heartwarming storytelling behind these journey-sharing moments.
If you’re interested in joining the movement and tutoring with ILI, visit the ILI Volunteer page or reach out directly to Jeanne at jeanne@ili.edu.
Photos of tutors with their students and a recent volunteer tutor training.