Volunteer opportunities
Want to make a difference for local immigrants in your community? EAL offers a full menu of volunteer opportunities with access to a network of training and support.
In addition to the opportunities listed below, we current have an immediate need for volunteers to help us as:
EAL Conversation Group Facilitator
EAL Volunteer Test Administrator
Submit a Volunteer Inquiry Form
One-to-one Tutors
To be an English tutor, you don’t need previous teaching experience. You don’t even need to know another language.
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
English At Large Beginner English classes are taught on Tufts University (Medford) and Brandeis University (Waltham) campuses by student volunteers. The 90-minute Beginner English classes meet two days a week during the fall and spring academic semesters. 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 supporting the student volunteers at either university with classroom observations and feedback, please contact our staff. This flexible volunteer role provides welcome support and 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
Book Club Group Leader
The English At Large Book Group provides opportunities for intermediate to advanced English learners to practice reading, speaking, and writing skills. Groups of 10-12 learners meet with their discussion leader and group each week for 1½ hours, for a 6-week session. Learners do the assigned reading before the meeting, and might also be assigned a different discussion role to prepare for the next meeting. Learner preparation includes 1-2 hours of reading and approximately 30 minutes of discussion role preparation each week.
The Book Group Discussion Leader’s main role is to facilitate book or short story discussion for groups of 10-12 intermediate to advanced English learners. Group leaders plan activities that promote interactive speaking practice and engage learners. Learners will be encouraged to develop the discussion topics and to participate in small and large group speaking activities. This role requires a 3-hour weekly commitment for 6 weeks, including 1½ hours of weekly meeting time. Discussion leaders read the short story or book prior to the start of session, and plan group discussion activities in advance.
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 co-facilitate 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
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
We thank our sponsors
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Did you see the pictures from last week's #SustainingGrants Awards Night? Check them out on Flickr:
Free Blood Pressure Screening tonite 6:30-7:30 p.m. at the library. @bcattv @BurlLibFriends @BurlingtonCoa @Burlington_MRC @BurlingtonMAFD @burlingtonpd @BPDACO
Missed our #woburnunites supper clubs? Try the community dining event that started it all! Register here: https://t.co/15EWhrs5Vt #culturalconnections #dinner #newneighbors #welcome @socialcap @michaelmulrenan @WoburnWelcomes @WoburnSchools Pls RT, friends.
#Thankyou to our state reps who answered the call to support Amendment #1254 for EAL! Thank you @richhaggerty @mciccolo @seangarballeyMA @RepKenGordon @Rep_Robertson @RepBradJones @mikeday4rep @TamiGouveiaMA @RepStanley for your actions to protect local services!
Excited and grateful to receive a #SustainingGrant from the @cummingsdotcom Foundation! Thank you for being a partner in helping local #immigrants reach their full potential and achieve their life goals!
Help protect life-changing services for local immigrants! Call your state rep to support Amendment #1254 for English At Large! Call script and rep contact list here: https://t.co/ZWp4088cf4
EAL Conversation Group facilitators lead groups for intermediate speakers, helping them build confidence and understanding. #Thankyou for creating safe spaces for learners to practice their English, build networks, and learn more about life in the U.S. #volunteerweek
We have to #thank the hundreds of local #volunteers who serve with #community #nonprofits that provide critical funding to support our programs! #Thankyou for inspiring the #philanthropy that makes our work possible! @TheZakimFund @cccchest @abunitedway @FFMW #volunteerweek
EAL Volunteer tutors serve 150 learners each year and provide more than 4,000 hours of service. #Thankyou for empowering your learners to achieve their life goals! #volunteerweek #makeadifference #learningbuildscommunity #lifechanging
Happy National Volunteer Week! https://t.co/woCVyzaP7h
Our Career Access Lab Program supports highly-skilled immigrants in their job search. #Thankyou CAL volunteers, for helping our learners reach their career goals! #volunteerweek #makeadifference #sharingskills
Our volunteer interns help us plan and run programs and training events and work on special projects. #Thankyou for helping us promote our services and to engage others in our work! #community #interns #volunteerweek
Our volunteer board helps guide our mission and works to raise funds to support our services. #Thankyou for your leadership and service! #volunteerweek #makeadifference
Did you know that students at #Tufts University volunteer with English At Large as teachers in our Beginner English Program? Thank you for helping local immigrants learn the words they need in daily life! #volunteerweek #learningbuildscommunity
Conversation Starters: News You Need to Hear from English At Large! https://t.co/Hud0gTjSDY
Got book groups?
Today’s mock interview event was a great success! Thank you #volunteers for helping our learners build confidence and enter the US workforce
Time is Running Out! You Have Just Hours Left to Bid High for Community Services https://t.co/0uS7E4ZbPd
We are heading into the final stretch of our online auction! You have just 24 hours left to make your winning bid and support local services! https://t.co/DUiIq3QVas
A notice to our volunteers and learners: many of our partner libraries are closing tomorrow due to the #winterstorm. Please check before traveling to attend programs. #BeSafe
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More pictures from our successful resume review event at the Woburn Public Library last night! Learn more about our Career Access Lab here: www.englishatlarge.org/career-readiness/
Happening now: CAL resume review event! Thank you Woburn Public Library and our volunteers for supporting local immigrants as they enter the US workforce!
Registration is now open for our summer book groups! This year, these volunteer-led groups will be reading and discussing short stories. Thank you Billerica Public Library, Robbins Library, Acton Public Library and Cary Memorial Library for partnering with us and hosting this year's groups. Learners, register here: www.englishatlarge.org/book-group/
Our summer conversation groups are filling up fast! Learners, register today to secure your spot: docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdZcmzZEfM8aQBwPTF_8gGrGXG44F7GQww-XJ46qWMNhXiE9Q/viewform
Summer 2019 Conversation Group Registration Request
docs.google.com
For more information about our groups, please visit our website: http://www.englishatlarge.org/conversation-groups/ You will receive an email confirmation from English At Large with group confirmation. You can only register for one group. Our conversation groups are very popular. Registration is acc...Attention Learners and volunteers who live in MetroWest communities: add your voice to this community survey! Taking this survey will help us learn more about the people who live and work in the community.Have you taken the Community Survey yet? Responses are completely anonymous and the data will be used to create Impact MetroWest-a public resource to build awareness & drive change. Fill it out today! It is available: In English: bit.ly/ImpactMW-EN Em Português: bit.ly/FFMW-P En Español: bit.ly/FFMW-SP
Thank you so much for boosting the signal! The more data we gather, the better Impact MetroWest will be!
We were so pleased to get a visit from Jack Good of People's United Bank who stopped by to deliver a $2,500 grant award from the People's United Bank Charitable Foundation! Thank you for supporting life-changing services for local immigrants across our shared service area!
Great news, especially for our Woburn tutors and learners!
Woburn Public Library
Introducing...online booking for study rooms : ) https://bit.ly/309Dp8A
A Public Service Announcement for our Learners - Free Citizenship Clinic coming soon to Waltham, MassachusettsWe are two weeks away from our Waltham workshop, sponsored by Fresenius Medical Care North America! Our team is partnering with dedicated volunteers from Fresenius to provide FREE legal assistance with your U.S. citizenship application. Call our office at 617-694-5949 to register today!
Excited to add to our growing library of resources with a generous grant through the ProLiteracy National Book Fund! Volunteers and staff use these books and curriculum materials to plan lessons and support our learner's educational goals!
We are now recruiting for our 2019-2020 New American Integration Program AmeriCorps Member! This is your opportunity to spend a year of service making a big impact for local immigrants with English At Large. Full job description, benefits and application instructions here: www.englishatlarge.org/work-with-us/
We are honored and grateful to included in this group of wonderful local nonprofits doing such important work in our communities! Thank you Cummings Foundation for sustaining our mission and for believing in our shared vision for a better world!
Thank you for the important services you provide -- we're delighted to support your efforts!
Session I of our 15-week CAL Career Group wrapped up today, with participants sharing their next steps as they move forward towards their career goals. Thanks to Na'tisha, our New American Integration Program AmeriCorps member and our amazing volunteers, these CAL learners have developed the skills they need to confidently market themselves and enter the U.S. workforce!
This free Citizenship class is still enrolling!We still have a few openings for the free citizenship class starting this Saturday, April 27 10:30am-12:00pm at the Woburn Public Library. To register or for more information call 781.935.6499 or email international-woburn@ymcaboston.org
More pictures from our successful CAL Networking event! Big thanks to our wonderful volunteers and to Waltham Public Library for supporting these learners as they enter the US workforce!
Happening now: Career Access Lab (CAL) learners are practicing their elevator pitches at our annual networking event!
Thank you Reps Rich Haggerty Michelle Ciccolo Sean Garballey Ken Gordon Brad Jones Tami Gouveia, State Representative-Elect, 14th Middlesex State Representative Michael Day and Reps. David Robertson, and Thomas Stanley for supporting Amendment #1254 for English At Large!
So so excited, proud and grateful to receive a #SustainingGrant from the Cummings Foundation! For us, this truly is a sustaining gift - one that will ensure that EAL services remain available in local communities to those who need them most! Thank you Cummings Foundation for keeping the good going!!
Congratulations! Wonderful to see you all recognized for the special work you do!!
Wonderful news!
We're so appreciative of your work -- congrats!
Congratulations!
Our New American Integration Program AmeriCorps Member also serves at local citizenship clinics throughout the year! Thank you Na'tisha for your service! Thank you Project Citizenship for addressing this important need in our community!
Attention English At Large Supporters: Take Action Now to Protect Life Changing Services in Your Community!
Call Your State Representative Now to Support Amendment #1254 to support English At Large! Call script and state rep contact information can be found here:
www.englishatlarge.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/EAL-Call-To-Action-April-2019.pdf
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