Consider your time with the client supplemental to other structured learning they may have experiences either in an ESL classes and self-directed practice. Contribute to the client’s listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills in English. Help the client understand the structure and rules of the English language.  Tailor lessons around goals that are practical and relevant to the client. Provide constructive feedback for client on their progress. Report your volunteer hours at least monthly

Tutors are expected to spend one hour a week for six months with clients. Cancelations will occur from both sides, and we ask that you do your best to reschedule or make-up sessions that were missed so that a client still receives six-months worth of instruction. We ask volunteers to be as flexible as possible and to communicate with our team if there are consistent scheduling issues. It is possible to extend a match for up to one year if both parties agree.

Our clients have diverse learning styles, educational backgrounds, and goals. Because of this, we encourage volunteers to be flexible in creative when planning sessions. Utilize the English Tutor kit provided, the resources and recorded trainings in our portal, and reach out to our team when you need support. We do not expect tutors to spend more than 30 minutes on average preparing for lessons.

Communication is critical in having a successful 1:1 match. Please ensure you are checking emails and text messages from our team and responding to check-ins. It is best to not make assumptions and over communicate with both the client and our team, to ensure everything is up-to-date!

Our clients often face many challenges and obstacles as they are navigating life in Richmond. Please keep in mind that we are asking you to be an English tutor and not a social worker! As client requests or needs arise, please refer back to our team to help navigate the situation and connect to resources. Even if you are not able to provide direct support on an issues, focus on the language learning opportunities in the situation. When in doubt, reach out for support and remember our boundaries policy and best practices for forming healthy helping relationships.

• A shorter, but good overview for working with beginners: Microsoft Word - SpringInstitute_Prel#7663BF.doc— see the longer version here.

• The long, but good overview of working with true beginners: Preliterate Book.p65

• We suggest watching the first two videos from this ProLiteracy series.

• Some examples of exercises you can work through: Activities-for-Tutoring-a-Pre-Literate-Student.pdf

• The Reep center has some good resources you can sift through for activities. 

• Pre-beginning ESL Story Bank | Written specifically for adult ESL learners, this collection of short stories is accompanied by spelling, comprehension and vocabulary practice.

• ABC English Phonics for Beginners online library that goes with associated books (substantial free samples online).

• Cielito’s ESL Literacy Website |Life-skills and basic grammar lessons appropriate for low beginning, high beginning, and intermediate level ESL literacy students.

• Education First| This collection of free English learning resources is designed to help your student study whatever aspect of conversational English is most interesting or important to them at the moment.

• ESL Lounge| This interactive site will allow your students to continue their studies more independently.

• Work Paper (Brief) from the Center for Applied Linguistics | Research, practice, and professional development for tutors working with adult English language learners with limited literacy.

• Read Works- an online library of reading samples at different level.

• English Vocabulary Quizlet | Flashcards and quizzes for building English vocabulary.

• Language Guide | Explore the world of English vocabulary in a sound-integrated guide. Touch or place your cursor over an object, word, or phrase to hear it pronounced aloud. Prove your vocabulary mastery by completing challenges.

• Many Things - Bilingual Sentence Pairs | Many Things - English/ Other Language basic sentence pairs

• Vocabulary Lists by Topic | Vocabulary lists and games for all levels of English language learners.

• Learning Chocolate | This interactive site is designed to help students memorize English vocabulary in an easy, fun way. All the exercises use pictures, sounds, and games to make learning a new language as fun as enjoying a piece of chocolate!

• Adjective or Adverb - This worksheet discusses the differences between adjectives and adverbs. It defines adjectives and adverbs, shows what each can do, and offers several examples of each in use.

• How to Use Adjectives and Adverbs - This resource provides basic guidelines of adjective and adverb use.

• How to Use Articles (a/an/the) - This handout discusses the differences between indefinite articles (a/an) and definite articles (the).

• Irregular Verbs - This handout contains a list and discussion of common irregular verbs.

• Numbers - This section discusses numbers, how to write them correctly, and when to use numerical expressions instead.

• Prepositions - This section deals with prepositions and their standard uses.

• Relative Pronouns - This handout provides detailed rules and examples for the usage of relative pronouns (that, who, whom, whose, which, where, when, and why).

• Sentence Punctuation Patterns - This handout describes eight sentence punctuation patterns with examples.

• Subject/Verb Agreement - This handout will help you understand the common grammar problem of subject/verb agreement.

• Two-Part (Phrasal) Verbs (Idioms) - This resource provides an overview and lists of phrasal/two part verbs.

• Verb Tenses - This handout explains and describes the sequence of verb tenses in English.

• Verbals: Gerunds, Participles, and Infinitives - This handout provides a detailed overview (including descriptions and examples) of gerunds, participles, and infinitives.

• 7 Free ESL Conversation Lesson Plans

• Education First | Free grammar lessons and quizzes with examples for practice.

• English Club | Materials and quizzes designed to help in teaching English

• ESL Galaxy | Free comprehensive lesson plans.

• International Coalition for Multilingual Education and Equity (University of Nebraska-Lincoln) | Free downloadable learning packets for multiple grade levels and English proficiency, including packets for Students with Interrupted Formal Schooling

• Oxford Seminars | Lesson plans that are tailored for a beginner/intermediate/advanced ESL learner.

Language Learning Websites

• Duolingo| Language-learning website and app that includes a digital language proficiency assessment exam.

• Read the Words | A website that reads the words that you type into a text box.

• Rosetta Stone | Language-learning website and app that is accessible for free through the Henrico Library.

• Vocaroo| An online tool that allows users to record, send, and download voice messages. Teachers and learners can use Vocaroo in different activities, such as podcasting, digital storytelling, broadcasting, and giving feedback.

• 350+ Amazing Online Learning Resources | This list includes sites with ready lesson plans and activities for all grade levels, as well as e-learning platforms.

• NYTimes Learning Network | Teaching resources based on New York Times content

• USA Learns | A free website to teach beginner or intermediate English knowledge adults online. Features four English levels with modules that develop a learner’s speaking, vocabulary, grammar, pronunciation, listening, reading, and writing skills.

• ProLiteracy Education Network|Free online courses and resources for adult literacy and ESL instructors.

Learn English by Video

• Mark Kulek| A YouTube channel with videos offering easy, comprehensive, and FREE English language language learning and conversation practice. There is a corresponding website with worksheets and flashcards that correspond to the videos.

• zAmerican English | A YouTube channel by a native Arabic speaker who has taught English as a foreign/second language for many years. Ideal for clients who can speak and read Arabic.

• Storyline Online | Free literacy program where actors read stories to children.

• American English- series of easy English videos and resources for English teachers.

• English for Beginners- series of easy English videos.

Podcasts

• 6 Minute English | A podcast by the BBC. The episodes are based on everyday situations and feature a discussion between two people, Nick and Alice.

• British Council Podcasts | For pre-intermediate or intermediate learners. The episodes are divided into different sections, from fictional drama and jokes to quizzes and language advice.

• Podcasts in English | Offers a wide variety of podcasts for every level. Episodes are quite short –normally under 5 minutes.

• The English We Speak | This English language learning podcast series by the BBC focuses on everyday phrases and slang. For intermediate learners.

• Voice of America - Learning English Broadcast | A source of news and information for millions of English learners worldwide, this broadcast uses a limited vocabulary, and stories are read at a slower pace than VOA's other English broadcasts.

• ATLAS (ABE Teaching & Learning Advancement System)I The work of ATLAS is evidence-based, practitioner-focused, and responsive to the needs of the adult education/ABE (Adult Basic Education) field. On this page, they list resources for tutors of Low-Literacy Adult ESL learners.

• The Reep centerhas some good resources you can sift through for activities. 

• Virginia Adult Resource Learning Center has some curated resources for ESL as well.

• We Speak NYC- a library of simple English videos and text to work through with clients.

• A Strategy for Giving Corrective Feedback to ELLs Using sentence frames and explicit feedback thoughtfully can provide the right balance of structure and scaffolding for English language learners.

• More resources curated by ATLAS (ABE Teaching & Learning Advancement System), housed in the Hamline University School of Education for providing corrective feedback.

• 6 Essential Strategies for Teaching English Language Learners

• ESL Conversation Questions and Answers – 75 Topics

• English Beyond the Classroom | Community-based tasks for ESL students.

• Learning for Life - indexed.pdf (bowvalleycollege.ca) | An ESL Literacy Handbook

• Nancy Riddlemoser’s Training | ESL Top 10 Tips

• Purdue OWL Exercises | A great resource for writing and professional development, the Purdue OWL is an academic site with in-depth, scholarly explanations of the nuances of the English language. Includes exercises on grammar, sentence structure/style, punctuation, spelling, etc.

• Six Principles of Adult Learning | Infographic from The Cultural Orientation Resource Exchange (CORE)

• USA Learns | Video lessons and 1000s of activities for English speaking, listening, vocabulary, pronunciation, reading, writing and grammar.

• Using English Quizzes | English grammar quizzes and worksheets on a range of topics including parts of speech, pronouns, phrasal verbs, vocabulary, verb tense, etc. Quizzes are available online or as printable handouts.

• The Immigrant Learning Center | Resource hub for adult educators and adult learners.

Educate VA Career Switcher Program| Program for those transitioning from one career field to a career in teaching

VCU Career Switcher Program | Program for transitioning into education career.

ESL Training Programs/Degrees