Volunteer opportunities
Please Note:
As part of our transition back to in-person instruction, English At Large has adopted a Vaccination Policy for all volunteers and learners.
All volunteers are to be fully vaccinated, and will be required to provide proof of vaccination to English At Large staff when accepted into training.
Interested in volunteering with English At Large? Please submit an inquiry:
Questions? Please call our office at 781-395-2374 or email volunteer@englishatlarge.org
One-to-one Tutors
As a volunteer one-to-one tutor with English At Large, you will be:
- Trained in a 12-hour workshop series to learn the essentials of a successful tutoring relationship.
- Matched with an adult learner in your area.
- Encouraged to work with your learner for 1½ – 2 hours per week, always in a public space—usually a library. (You and your learner will agree on the time and place.)
- Expected to make a minimum commitment of 50 contact hours with your learner.
Beginner English Teaching Support
EAL partners with Tufts University student volunteers to offer Beginner English classes to learners in Medford and surrounding communities. The Beginner curriculum fills a real need for “survival English” instruction. Students learn basic English communication, including how to give personal information, navigate their communities, and talk about their daily activities. Classes are facilitated by Tufts student volunteers through the school’s community service program. These students are enthusiastic teachers who devote two evenings each week during the academic year (September to May) to the Beginner classes. EAL provides student volunteers with a full Beginner curriculum, initial training, and support and mentoring throughout the year.
If you have a Masters in TESOL, a CELTA or TEFL ESL teaching certificate, or have experience teaching ESL in the U.S. or abroad, and are interested in mentoring the student volunteers with classroom observations and feedback, please contact our staff. This flexible volunteer role provides welcome support and skills development for the volunteer teachers, as well as an opportunity to see Beginner Classes in action.
Conversation Group Facilitator
Conversation Groups help English learners to build fluency skills and speaking confidence. Each Conversation Group of up to 12 adult English learners from intermediate to advanced levels is led by two co-facilitators. This is a weekly, 1½-hour commitment for a minimum of three months.
As a group leader, you will receive a four-hour training to learn how to:
- Create a constructive and engaging learner-centered environment
- Encourage active conversation among participants
- Work with multi-level English learners
- Select the most beneficial conversation topics
Summer Book Club Group Leader
English At Large Summer Book Groups provide opportunities for intermediate to advanced English learners to practice reading, speaking, and writing skills. Groups of 8-10 learners meet weekly for 1.5 hours during the 6-week session. Participants read the assigned text, prepare talking points in advance, and take an active role in leading the discussion. Book Group Facilitators attend a one-time, two-hour EAL training workshop, and use materials to explore story concepts, word use, composition, and cultural comparisons.
The Book Group leader’s main role is to facilitate the book or short story discussion, and assign rotating participant roles that promote discussion skills, vocabulary expansion, and expressing opinions. Learners will be encouraged to develop the discussion topics and to participate in small and large group speaking activities. The Book Group Facilitator role requires a 3-hour weekly commitment for 6 weeks, including 1.5 hours of weekly meeting time.
Intake Assessor
Interview prospective learners to determine their eligibility for the English At Large tutoring program and test their English level. This role has a flexible schedule where volunteers can conduct as few as two interviews per month, or as many as you like.
As an interviewer, you will receive a one-hour training session to learn how to:
- Determine a learner’s goals for learning English
- Gather basic demographic information
- Administer a brief reading/writing and listening/speaking test
- Evaluate all of the information you collect to fully understand the needs of our learners.
Test Administrator
This important volunteer function helps English At Large track the language progress of our learners.
As a test administrator, you will complete formal state certification training and administer standardized speaking or writing tests to our learners. Test Administrators can administer as many or as few tests as they like per month, though much of the testing must be completed in May and June.
Career Access Lab (CAL) Volunteer
Our Career Access Lab (CAL) welcomes volunteers willing to share their experience in the U.S. workforce
CAL volunteers support the Career Readiness Group, a 15-week program that covers the skills needed to start a career in the US. The topics include resumes, cover letters, networking skills, job interview skills, and information about US workforce culture.
Volunteers may choose to:
- Visit the CAL Group to support a career lesson
- Provide Career Mentoring to a CAL participant
- Offer feedback at the Resume Review Event
- Conduct interviews at the Mock Interview Event
- Participate in the Networking Event
For more information on volunteering in CAL, please contact the program facilitator at americorps@englishatlarge.org
Interpreter
Interpreters help EAL staff communicate with current and potential learners. Many of our learners are in the early stages of their English journey and need
interpretation during the application and intake process. Interpretation opportunities include conducting telephone intake calls, supporting intake and
English language assessments, and translating informational materials about our programs. If you are proficient in English and a second language and
would like to volunteer, please complete a volunteer inquiry form.
Priority languages include Arabic, Chinese, French, Haitian Creole, Korean, Portuguese, Russian,
Spanish, and Vietnamese.
Changing Volunteer Opportunities
If you don’t have time for a weekly volunteer commitment, consider one of our other volunteer roles:
Event Volunteer
Event volunteers lend a hand at our volunteer, learner, community, and fundraising events. Typical activities include staffing a raffle table, food table or information booth, greeting guests, registering attendees, or being part of the set-up/clean-up team.
Fundraising & Grant-Writing Volunteer
Help us grow to serve more newcomers by conveying why English At Large is important in your community through fundraisers and grants.
English At Large
800 West Cummings Park, Suite 5550
Woburn, MA 01801
tel : 781.395.2374
email : info@englishatlarge.org
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English learners! Be safe and have fun this summer with these tips from the YMCA. Have a great weekend!
Conversation Starters - News you need to hear from English At Large! https://conta.cc/3ndrQK5
English learners! We use bags to hold many things. But what is a mixed bag? Find out in today's video from VOA English in a Minute! http://ow.ly/ZB0650JEH3a
English learners! This week's idioms will help you see the light!
English learners! Did you know that your local public library has tools and resources to help you gain new skills and improve your English? And even better - you can get a library card for FREE! Visit your local library to learn more!
English At Large offices are closed today in observance of the Juneteenth holiday. Learn more about the importance of this day here: http://ow.ly/PbfN50Jzux4
English learners! Today's video lesson with Bob the Canadian will teach you 8 mean English phrases that you should never say - but that are important for you to learn! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=itbFvLiqoVw
English learners! Today we are sharing a 15 minute morning pronunciation practice from Accent's Way English with Hadar. Regular practice will raise your skills and confidence! http://ow.ly/2e1I50JxuVJ
English learners! We will go out on a limb here and share these great plant idioms. Once you understand these common phrases everything will be coming up roses!
English learners! Today's video is Part 2 of the American vs. British vs. Canadian Accent Battle from English with Lucy. Don't forget to try the free quiz included in the comments! http://ow.ly/s6cM50Jweh1
English learners! Today we are re-sharing this fun video from English with Lucy that shows some differences between American, British and Canadian English. Enjoy! http://ow.ly/u8KP50JwcTC
English Learners! Can you name these 71 things in English? Try this Master Quiz from http://ow.ly/ehmy50JiNLJ.
http://ow.ly/BUaO50JiNLI
English learners: Have you visited one of our National Parks? Learn about the National Park Service in the U.S. in this video lesson by Voice of America!
http://ow.ly/E1YP50JgZVx
Conversation Starters: News you need to hear from English At Large! https://conta.cc/3m1n2ap
https://conta.cc/3NFXawv
English learners! It's time to chill out, let your hair down and indulge yourself? This week's idioms are all about relaxing!
English learners! Stressed? Burnt out? This video lesson from http://ow.ly/ophp50JfN1r (Australian English) features useful idioms to describe how you feel.
http://ow.ly/ly3X50JfN1s
English learners! Do you live in a house or an apartment? You will learn words to talk about where you live in this video from ESL Gold: http://ow.ly/6xNe50JfMCi
English learners! Today's video from Bob the Canadian has some great tips to help you to stop translating in your head! http://ow.ly/yx2Z50Jct0Q
Do you want to make a difference in your community? Do you have a passion to support our immigrant neighbors and friends? English At Large is now seeking community volunteers to join our Board of Directors! Learn more here: http://ow.ly/X9pW50JcanI
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English learners! Be safe and have fun this summer with these tips from the YMCA. Have a great weekend!
Conversation Starters - News you need to hear from English At Large! conta.cc/3n9Vlwr
Conversation Starters - News You Need to Hear from English At Large
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Celebrating our learners, volunteers and our community! Greetings! Happy Summer! Our staff and volunteers are happy and busy, working together to deliver in-person programs this summer in Acton, ArlinEnglish learners! We use bags to hold many things. But what is a mixed bag? Find out in today's video from VOA English in a Minute! ow.ly/Y8IX50JEH3b
English learners! Did you know that your local public library has tools and resources to help you gain new skills and improve your English? And even better - you can get a library card for FREE! Visit your local library to learn more!
English At Large offices are closed today in observance of the Juneteenth holiday. Learn more about the importance of this day here: ow.ly/uuYb50Jzuxb
English learners! Today's video lesson with Bob the Canadian will teach you 8 mean English phrases that you should never say - but that are important for you to learn! www.youtube.com/watch?v=itbFvLiqoVw
English learners! Today we are sharing a 15 minute morning pronunciation practice from Accent's Way English with Hadar. Regular practice will raise your skills and confidence! ow.ly/g1SQ50JxuVK
Last Friday, we celebrated the achievements of 34 Adult Learners, who worked with their volunteer tutors virtually during COVID-19. Congratulations to our Tutoring Program Graduates! View pictures from the event as well as the tribute video here: www.englishatlarge.org/2022-learner-graduation-event/
English learners! We will go out on a limb here and share these great plant idioms. Once you understand these common phrases everything will be coming up roses!
We are proud and grateful to be a Community Endowment of Lexington grantee!Congratulations to our 2022 Grantees! Celebrating with them at the Lexington Community Center last night was wonderful. These nonprofits and town agencies will provide amazing programming to Lexington residents throughout the year. Thank you to them and all our board members: current, new and outgoing. For more info on CEL, including volunteer opportunities see www.foundationmw.org/give/town-funds/community-endowment-of-lexington/
English At Large is now accepting referrals for our Program for Afghan Learners (PAL). This 6-week, intensive Beginner English Program for Afghan Refugees is scheduled to start the week of July 11th.
Congratulations Sarah A.! We can't wait to try the new flavor!It's official, we have a winner! Thank you to everyone who participated in this contest, whether by submitting a creative flavor or voting.
The winner is.... Sarah A. from Acton! The winning flavor is called BLACK HOLE! Dark chocolate base, marshmallow swirl, caramel swirl, iridescent edible glitter. This flavor will be created at West Side Creamery and available for purchase soon - stay tuned for that announcement!
A portion of the proceeds will go directly to English At Large , a local non-profit organization that provides important free, accessible important resources to adult immigrants.
We can't wait to try it out!!
English learners! Today's video is Part 2 of the American vs. British vs. Canadian Accent Battle from English with Lucy. Don't forget to try the free quiz included in the comments! ow.ly/YbTp50Jweh0
English learners! Today we are re-sharing this fun video from English with Lucy that shows some differences between American, British and Canadian English. Enjoy! ow.ly/QKRk50JwcTE
English learners! We have openings in our Summer Book Group starting soon at the Andover Public Library! Register here: docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfmqvL65FkkOaCotkxctryrWDVh6fYlON-q3C086K97YjBqKQ/viewform
Time to vote on your favorite flavor to support English At Large!Thank you to everyone who participated in our 3rd Annual Ice Cream Flavor Contest! We received over 50 flavor submissions with some VERY creative ideas and names that are truly out of this world. After an extensive internal voting process, we have narrowed it down to the final THREE flavors.
Now it's up to YOU to pick the winning flavor! Please vote for your top flavor choice below and spread the word! Final voting ends on TUESDAY, JUNE 7th at 5pm. One vote per person, please!
The winning flavor will be created at West Side Creamery and available for purchase for a limited time. A portion of the proceeds will go directly to English At Large , a local non-profit organization that provides free, accessible, high-quality services to adult immigrants across Greater Boston.
Vote here: forms.gle/pou3aVukYCDT5vwT6
English Learners! Can you name these 71 things in English? Try this Master Quiz from ow.ly/Yh9k50JiNLG.
ow.ly/73ut50JiNLH
English learners: Have you visited one of our National Parks? Learn about the National Park Service in the U.S. in this video lesson by Voice of America!
ow.ly/bNXW50JgZVw
Interesting! I want to discuss the volunteering opportunities that are available at your place. Can someone help me to connect with the Volunteer Manager/ Executive Director to discuss the same?
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