Our dedicated ESL volunteers meet with New Americans whose work schedules are not conducive for in-person classes, with homebound mothers of newborns, and with New American learners currently enrolled in classes to further support their English language learning. Knowing that learning English helps increase our clients’ opportunities in this country, ESL volunteers generously devote their time and expertise to strengthen the lives of New Americans. In addition to ESL coaching, ESL volunteers help New Americans navigate their surroundings as they go shopping, organize outings, or simply chat over tea. ESL volunteers also support New Americans who have specific goals for their career or for future trainings. For example, they may work on ESL related to a CDL license or home health aid training program, or towards a future goal of enrolling in more advance learning.
It’s especially heartwarming and inspiring to witness the special relationships that develop between our ESL volunteers and their New American students, and how much they learn from one another. Recently, one of our caring ESL volunteers was particularly concerned about the sugar intake of a newly settled family whom she was coaching. Noting their lack of literacy in reading products’ labels and limited knowledge of health issues caused by high sugar intake, in addition to using the book pertaining to the learner’s English level, she organized grocery shopping outings to build literacy in reading products’ labels to contribute to a healthier lifestyle for the family. This real life need-based volunteer-learner connection is the essence of how our ESL volunteer community engage with New Americans. ESL volunteers deepen and broaden the impact of our in-house classes, and we couldn’t do this work without them.
Dedicated ESL Volunteers Help New Americans Settle With Hope
