| Most every city in the United States has a substantial | | | | classifieds to find an apartment and help filling out |
| community of non-native English speakers. These | | | | housing applications, yet another may want to prepare |
| individuals span many ethnic and socio-economic | | | | for the GED. |
| backgrounds; they are immigrants, non-immigrants, | | | | International volunteer positions may involve any |
| visitors, and students, professionals and laborers, | | | | number of responsibilities: everything from fixing the |
| children, teenagers, and adults. The commonality is that | | | | outdoor plumbing, to rebuilding homes, to teaching |
| they need assistance learning English in order to better | | | | several classes of students. With positions in rural |
| integrate into American society. They turn to people | | | | environments and undeveloped countries, where the |
| who are teaching English as a Second Language. ESL | | | | number of able hands is usually short, you may be |
| jobs can be paid or done on a volunteer basis. The | | | | expected to pitch in wherever needed: carrying water, |
| learners have many different needs: to find a job or a | | | | moving desks and equipment, babysitting, fixing |
| new place to live; understand their children's homework, | | | | computers, in addition to teaching. More urban |
| report cards, and correspondence from teachers; or | | | | assignments, on the other hand, will allow you to focus |
| they simply need a guide - a personal connection in a | | | | on your specific teaching and tutoring duties. In most |
| place that is foreign to them. | | | | settings abroad, learners will often be children, |
| Outside of the U.S., volunteer ESL jobs abound as well. | | | | adolescents, and teenagers. As with any type of |
| In 2007, English is the second largest mother tongue | | | | commitment, ask a lot of questions before you agree |
| language in the world, next to Chinese, which has over | | | | to a volunteer contract abroad. Even after asking a lot |
| 1 billion native speakers. The largest numbers of English | | | | of questions, read up on the country, city, culture, and |
| speakers are in the United States, Great Britain, the | | | | history of the people you'll be working with, and be |
| Philippines, India, Canada, Australia, and Nigeria. | | | | prepared to face a variety of scenarios. |
| However, over 50 other countries, and the United | | | | The only qualifications you must have for a volunteer |
| Nations, have designated English as an official | | | | ESL position, is sensitivity to the needs of your |
| language. This enormous number of English speakers, | | | | learners, a willingness to employ effective teaching |
| in addition to the global economic impact of its | | | | methods, patience and understanding when working |
| widespread use as an official language, has created a | | | | with individuals from a variety of socio-economic and |
| worldwide demand for English instruction. From Mexico | | | | cultural backgrounds, and flexibility. |
| to Malaysia, from Ghana to Hungary, if you want to | | | | The rewards of volunteer ESL teacher experiences |
| assist people to improve their English skills, the demand | | | | are manifold. You'll be providing direct assistance to |
| is there. | | | | individuals with great education needs. This effort is so |
| You can begin looking for a volunteer opportunity via | | | | much more than an interesting factoid to add to your |
| an Internet search. For local opportunities, ProLiteracy | | | | resume. You'll be touching people's lives in a personal |
| or Volunteer Match will point you to local literacy | | | | way, empowering them, and assisting them in moving |
| volunteer groups and specific volunteer opportunities, | | | | beyond real obstacles. But the ultimate reward, without |
| respectively. Also, check out the ubiquitous | | | | question, is the knowledge and inspiration you will gain |
| Craigslist.org, under community, and then volunteers. | | | | from these students - who are often more motivated, |
| For international volunteer opportunities, the latter sites | | | | respectful, courageous, and resilient than the average |
| may have some listings, but be sure to check | | | | student. |
| Volunteer Abroad and the Peace Corps. While, local | | | | Beyond the volunteer level, ESL offers more |
| volunteer positions usually require a minimum | | | | opportunities and opens more doors than many realize. |
| commitment of 6 months, international assignments | | | | By obtaining a certificate or degree, you can obtain a |
| require variable amounts of time of as little as several | | | | paid position overseas. You may fall in love with a |
| weeks to more than a year. If you wish to volunteer | | | | particular setting, and remain there. Or, you may return |
| abroad, the sponsoring organization may lessen your | | | | the US and find employment here as an ESL |
| total trip cost by paying a stipend, offer free housing, | | | | Instructor. Also in the States, you may decide to get a |
| or providing partial airfare refund upon completion of | | | | Master's in Teaching English as a Second Language or |
| your contract. | | | | Applied Linguistics. |
| Stateside volunteer ESL positions often involve private | | | | As part of a Master's in TESL, you will study past and |
| tutoring. The organization will match you with | | | | current theories behind language learning, best second |
| non-native English speakers who live and work in your | | | | language teaching practices, and how to hone your |
| community. Most likely, before placement, the | | | | skills as a professional teacher. You will learn to |
| organization has tested the learner and will let you | | | | perform classroom research and be given the |
| know their proficiency level and personal goals for | | | | opportunity to contribute to the field, among other |
| learning English. Often, learners are at a low to | | | | valuable experiences. If you decide that you love |
| intermediate level of proficiency and have very | | | | research and aspire to become a professor, or be a |
| different reasons for seeking out tutoring. One | | | | Director of your own language program, you can take |
| individual's goals may be to assist her daughter with | | | | your degree another step further and get a PhD in |
| homework, another may need to learn to read the | | | | Linguistics. |