Volunteer as an English as a Second Language (ESL) Tutor

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Volunteer

ESL or Pre-GED Teacher Records Management Staff Assistant Children's Education Assistant Green Thumb Special Events

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Learn more about volunteering by attending one of our upcoming New Volunteer Orientations. Contact Kimberly Weaver, Volunteer Relations Manager, at kweaver@vmlc.org or 214-265-5057, to sign-up for one of the following orientation times!

New Volunteer Orientations:

Thurs., August 7       10:00 am - 12:00 pm
Thurs., August 7       6:30-8:30 pm
Wed., August 13      10:00 am - 12:00 pm
Wed., August 13       6:30-8:30 pm

Below are descriptions of volunteer opportunities:

English as a Second Language Teacher

Time commitment: 2 ½ hours, once a week for 12 weeks (one semester). Each class is two hours long and preparation time is approximately 30 minutes a week.

Times available:
Mornings: Monday through Thursday, 9:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.
Afternoons: Monday through Thursday, 12:30 p.m. - 2:30 p.m.
Evenings: Monday through Thursday, 7:00 p.m. - 8:45 p.m.

Position Description: Teach English to non-English speaking adults. Teaching is conducted in a classroom environment with a teaching partner. A curriculum and all materials are provided to the volunteer tutors. Training is also provided.

Qualifications: Interest in helping people, good communication skills, and ability to work as a team. Neither previous teaching experience nor foreign language skills are necessary to be a successful tutor.

Pre-GED Teacher

Time commitment: 2 ½ hours, once a week for 12 weeks (one semester). Each class is two hours long and preparation time is approximately 30 minutes a week.

Times available:
Evenings: Monday through Thursday, 7:00 p.m. - 8:45 p.m.

Position Description: Help non-native English speaking adults prepare for the GED exam in the areas of Math, Reading and Writing. Teaching is conducted in a classroom environment and curriculum and all materials are provided to the volunteer tutors. Training is also provided.

Qualifications: Interest in helping people, good communication skills, and ability to work as a team. Neither previous teaching experience nor foreign language skills are necessary to be a successful tutor.

Student Records Management

Time Commitment: 2 hours, once a week for 12 weeks (one semester).

Times available: Hours are very flexible, Monday through Friday.

Position Description: Record attendance for all the adult learners, children and volunteers. Attendance is recorded both manually and on the computer. Test scores and survey information are also recorded in the student database. These volunteers will interact with the tutors and students to ensure that all classrooms are equipped for teaching. Records management is done in an office with several other volunteers in a very congenial atmosphere.

Qualifications: Detail-oriented and able to multi-task. Enjoy meeting new people and having new experiences. Computer data entry skills a plus but not a necessity because many records are first recorded manually.

Children's Education Assistant

Time Commitment: 1 ½ hours, once a week for 12 weeks (one semester).

Times available: Monday through Thursday, 9:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. Monday through Thursday, 12:30 p.m. - 2:30 p.m.

Position Description: Read a story and conduct a creative project with a small group of mostly preschool-aged children. The children range from 6 weeks to 5 years old. Curriculum and creative projects are prepared by the childcare task force. However, creativity is encouraged.

Qualifications: Love children, enjoy reading to them and doing projects with them that allow them to learn and to explore the world around them.

Green Thumb Team Member

Time Commitment: Extremely flexible: an hour once a week or once every two weeks.

Times available: Almost any time. We can work with you to set up a schedule.

Position Description: Create and maintain gardens to be enjoyed by children and adults alike. Help create a children's learning garden that will open their eyes in wonder about the nature around them.

Qualifications: Provide your own garden tools and have, what else, a green thumb. Enjoy creating beauty and watching others enjoy it.

Special Event Volunteers

If you're one of those do-gooders with a crazy schedule, here are some one-time special opportunities that may be perfect for you.

Annual Spring Event: Each year the VMLC Board of Directors hosts our annual spring event: Wings of Spring: A Celebration of Language, Literacy and Learning. Venue and entertainment change each year, and volunteers are always needed to help with all phases of the event. This is a fun way for groups to volunteer together.

Annual Golf Tournament: Golf anyone? Each year the VMLC Board of Directors hosts our Changing Lives Through Literacy golf tournament in the fall at the Dallas Athletic Club. Volunteers are needed to help with all phases of the tournament. This event is a fun way for groups to volunteer together.

Student Celebrations: VMLC always celebrates the end of the fall semester and the holiday season in December with a large party, including a special appearance by Santa Claus. After the spring semester, we have a large graduation and recognition ceremony in April. Volunteers are needed at both of these functions to help set up and clean up. Both are a great deal of fun and a great way to volunteer with your friends.

Fall and Spring Cleaning: With hundreds of students, volunteers and staff in and out of our building each day, we are in dire need of the occasional good scrubbing -- inside and out. If you can don a pair of rubber gloves, please let us know.

If you are interested in one or more of these positions, please call us at (214) 265-5057. Or if you prefer, click here to fill out our feedback form. Be sure to select the appropriate volunteer position that interests you in the drop-down menu.

Our teachers are very nice and smart people. They teach us a lot of English. I want to thank them all for their patience and taking their time to teach us. God bless you all.

-- Maria R.
Morning Class
2 years