crossthreaded

I just finished my certification to teach English as a Foreign Language, and I’m pretty excited about having this skill now. For years, I volunteered as a conversation partner to refugees and immigrants, and now I know some more of the theory and practice behind it.

Refugee resettlement agencies are always looking for people to teach newcomers to the U.S. how to speak English. I’ve seen college students team up to teach several elementary-aged children once a week in one refugee family’s apartment, and volunteers who are cultural mentors for one family that teach English as they go through day-to-day activities they do with their families.

Being a volunteer that teaches English to refuges is one of the most rewarding and important jobs there is. Refugees are ready to learn the language, for the most part, and it’s just good fun to laugh together as they learn English and as the volunteer tries to learn the refugee’s language!

Check with your local resettlement agency to find out more about the needs of your area’s refugees. You could teach a formal, structured class, or maybe just work with one person to help improve his or her English skills.

For a listing of resettlment offices of one agency, check out the International Rescue Committe’s website at www.theirc.org, and look for the local office contacts on the bottom right of the page.

Another great resource: http://www.transitionsabroad.com/publications/magazine/0111/refugee_work_at_home.shtml