Volunteer opportunities

Interested in volunteering with English At Large? Please submit an inquiry:

 
 
Submit Volunteer Inquiry

 

Questions?  Please call our office at 781-395-2374 or email volunteer@englishatlarge.org

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.

 

Please note: For the comfort and safety of our Tutoring learners and volunteers, EAL has instituted a Health Policy. Tutoring volunteers and learners will be asked to share their COVID-19 vaccination status upon enrollment in the program. This information will be used to make tutor-learner matches that consider the comfort level of each individual. Vaccination against COVID-19 is not required to participate in EAL Programs. For more information, please refer to the EAL Tutoring Program Health Policies, effective September 1, 2023. 

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.

Beginner English Co-Teacher

BEGINNER ENGLISH CO-TEACHER (in person): To meet the increasing demand for Beginner level English instruction, English At Large will offer free in-person Beginner English classes in the Acton-Boxborough-Chelmsford area starting in January 2024. English At Large has developed a full academic year curriculum of basic English survival and communication skills, with teaching notes included. The 90-minute classes meet twice weekly for 10- to12-week semesters, and are co-taught by pairs of EAL volunteers. Each co-teacher teaches with their assigned partner one day a week, for one or two semesters. Teaching experience is not required for this position, but teachers should have a moderate to high comfort level with online and internet technology.

 

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

Please note: Effective September 1, 2023, proof of vaccination against COVID-19 is not required to participate in EAL programs. Please refer to the EAL Group Program Health Policies for more information. 

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.
BEST PLUS Speaking/Listening Standardized Test Assessor

This important volunteer function helps English At Large track the language progress of our learners.

BEST PLUS SPEAKING/LISTENING STANDARDIZED TEST ASSESSOR: Best Plus test assessors meet with learners at the start and completion of their tutoring to administer a 20-minute standardized speaking test that measures speaking proficiency level.  Volunteer Assessors attend a SABES training and complete a certification test.  Tests are administered during the learner’s tutoring session at area libraries, within a comfortable travel radius. This flexible volunteer role involves personal interaction with learners of all levels, and requires a friendly demeanor and ability to put learners at ease.

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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15 hours ago
English At Large

English Learners! Today's video lesson from Bob the Canadian he gives you several examples on how to use AS ... AS phrases in English. You'll learn how to use these AS ... AS phrases with adjectives and adverbs such as: as easy as pie, as busy as a bee, as flat as a pancake, as quickly as, as slowly as, and more! ... See MoreSee Less

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4 days ago
English At Large

English Learners! Today's lesson is full of tongue twisters to help you improve your English! ... See MoreSee Less

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5 days ago
English At Large

English Learners! Plan to stop by our Open House to learn more about free local programs! Interested in tutoring? You can begin the enrollment process at the Open House! ... See MoreSee Less

English Learners! Plan to stop by our Open House to learn more about free local programs! Interested in tutoring? You can begin the enrollment process at the Open House!
5 days ago
English At Large

Happening now: the Career Access Lab Resume Review event! ... See MoreSee Less

Happening now: the Career Access Lab Resume Review event!Image attachment
6 days ago
English At Large

English Learners! Do you know these slang words? ... See MoreSee Less

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7 days ago
English At Large

Attention English Learners in Woburn and surrounding communities: JOIN US at next week's OPEN HOUSE to learn more about FREE local programs! No registration required! ... See MoreSee Less

Attention English Learners in Woburn and surrounding communities: JOIN US at next weeks OPEN HOUSE to learn more about FREE local programs! No registration required!
7 days ago
English At Large

English Learners! Are you someone I can trust? Can I tell you a secret? Can you keep a secret? In this lesson Bob the Canadian will teach you some common terms and phrases about secrets! ... See MoreSee Less

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2 weeks ago
English At Large

English Learners! Save the date and plan to JOIN US at our Learner Open House at the Woburn Public Library! Staff and volunteers will be on hand to tell you more about free local programs that can help you improve your English! ... See MoreSee Less

English Learners! Save the date and plan to JOIN US at our Learner Open House at the Woburn Public Library! Staff and volunteers will be on hand to tell you more about free local programs that can help you improve your English!
2 weeks ago
English At Large

English Learners! Today's video from linguamarina shares hacks that will help you memorize thousands of English words per day and grow your vocabulary. ... See MoreSee Less

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2 weeks ago
English At Large

English Learners! Greetings! How are you? What's up? How have you been? Good to see you! Hey there! Today's graphic will show you 30 ways to say hello! ... See MoreSee Less

English Learners! Greetings! How are you? Whats up? How have you been? Good to see you! Hey there! Todays graphic will show you 30 ways to say hello!
2 weeks ago
English At Large

English Learners! In this English lesson Bob the Canadian will talk about some common words and phrases we use to talk about a day off. Maybe you need to ask for a day off. Maybe you've been given a day off. Maybe you have a day off coming up and you want to be able to ask your co-workers if they have anything special planned.
In this English lesson you'll learn how to have great English conversations about days off. Enjoy!
... See MoreSee Less

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2 weeks ago
English At Large

Attention English Learners! English At Large is hosting an Open House at the Woburn Public Library! Stop by to learn more about free local programs that can help you improve your English! Not a Woburn resident? No problem - EAL serves 24 local communities! ... See MoreSee Less

Attention English Learners! English At Large is hosting an Open House at the Woburn Public Library! Stop by to learn more about free local programs that can help you improve your English! Not a Woburn resident? No problem - EAL serves 24 local communities!
2 weeks ago
English At Large

Time to jump in and place your HIGH BID to win RED SOX TICKETS for some great upcoming games - including Opening Day! Your HIGH BID gets you great seats - and moves us closer to hitting our fundraising goals! www.biddingforgood.com/auction/item/browse.action?auctionId=341737892&categoryId=342095701 ... See MoreSee Less

Time to jump in and place your HIGH BID to win RED SOX TICKETS for some great upcoming games - including Opening Day! Your HIGH BID gets you great seats - and moves us closer to hitting our fundraising goals! https://www.biddingforgood.com/auction/item/browse.action?auctionId=341737892&categoryId=342095701Image attachment
2 weeks ago
English At Large

English Learners! We wanted to share this important PSA - public service announcement! Help keep yourself safe from scams with theses tips! #SlamtheScam ... See MoreSee Less

English Learners! We wanted to share this important PSA - public service announcement! Help keep yourself safe from scams with theses tips! #SlamtheScamImage attachmentImage attachment+1Image attachment
2 weeks ago
English At Large

The EAL Online Auction closes tonight at 10PM! Don't miss your chance to WIN BIG while supporting free local programs for adult English learners. Every bid makes a difference! BID BIG to WIN BIG! www.biddingforgood.com/auction/auctionhome.action?auctionId=341737892 ... See MoreSee Less

The EAL Online Auction closes tonight at 10PM! Dont miss your chance to WIN BIG while supporting free local programs for adult English learners. Every bid makes a difference! BID BIG to WIN BIG! https://www.biddingforgood.com/auction/auctionhome.action?auctionId=341737892
2 weeks ago
English At Large

The EAL Online Auction catalog includes passes for unique experiences that are exclusively New England! BID NOW to try something new - with this many choices, you can't lose! (Well, you can, if you don't BID HIGH!) www.biddingforgood.com/auction/item/browse.action?auctionId=341737892&categoryId=342095706 ... See MoreSee Less

The EAL Online Auction catalog includes passes for unique experiences that are exclusively New England! BID NOW to try something new - with this many choices, you cant lose! (Well, you can, if you dont BID HIGH!) https://www.biddingforgood.com/auction/item/browse.action?auctionId=341737892&categoryId=342095706Image attachmentImage attachment
2 weeks ago
English At Large

Need more wine? Did you know that the EAL Online Auction features 5 WINE COLLECTIONS created especially for you? BID NOW and BID HIGH to WIN WINE! www.biddingforgood.com/auction/item/browse.action?auctionId=341737892&categoryId=342095705 ... See MoreSee Less

Need more wine? Did you know that the EAL Online Auction features 5 WINE COLLECTIONS created especially for you? BID NOW and BID HIGH to WIN WINE! https://www.biddingforgood.com/auction/item/browse.action?auctionId=341737892&categoryId=342095705Image attachment
2 weeks ago
English At Large

Thinking about getting away but don't have time to actually go away? Pamper yourself with a B&B! We highly recommend the Irving House, located in historic Harvard Square. BID NOW to secure yourself a future visit - and to support free local programs! www.biddingforgood.com/auction/item/item.action?id=342934244 ... See MoreSee Less

Thinking about getting away but dont have time to actually go away? Pamper yourself with a B&B! We highly recommend the Irving House, located in historic Harvard Square. BID NOW to secure yourself a future visit - and to support free local programs! https://www.biddingforgood.com/auction/item/item.action?id=342934244
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