ESL and Literacy Tutor Training

Contents:

ESL Pre-service Tutor Workshop
ESL Inservice Workshop
Talk Time Facilitator Workshop
Literacy Pre-service Tutor Workshop
Literacy Inservice Workshop

Literacy NOW offers a variety of ESL and literacy workshops throughout Washington State for screened, committed ESL and literacy volunteers from qualifying programs who have been registered by their coordinators.

The pre-service and inservice ESL training prepares volunteers to teach adult refugee and immigrant learners with different levels of English skills. The pre-service and inservice literacy training prepares volunteers to teach adults with different levels of reading and writing skills. The trainers – all seasoned, experienced teachers - present interactive workshops that develop the volunteers’ confidence to teach ESL and literacy in a variety of settings including one-to-one tutoring and small group teaching. They model good teaching by demonstrating new concepts, presenting information, and providing well-designed activities to practice the new skills and apply them to real situations.

ESL Pre-service Tutor Workshop 10 hours

Who can attend?

Screened, committed ESL volunteers from qualifying programs who have been registered by their coordinators and will teach ESL to adult refugee and immigrant learners one-on-one or in small groups or assist a teacher in an ESL classroom.

Why attend?

As a result of the training, tutors will be able to

Understand the challenges an adult faces when learning another language
Assess the learner’s purposes and skills in using English
Use a variety of methods to teach speaking, listening, reading, and writing
Plan lessons that meet their learner’s needs
Use materials that relate to the learner’s life

Material:

Tutoring ESL: A Handbook for Volunteers

Workshop comments:

"Great ideas for teaching methods and lesson planning. Great insights into stepping into the student’s shoes, making teaching helpful, respectful, and relevant."

"The trainer’s teaching style modeled a fun, active, engaging, productive classroom with lots of activity and opportunity to practice."

"Finely honed, well-crafted and highly-motivating presentation."

"I can create a lesson plan and feel confident about my ability to teach ESL to complete beginners. The workshop was a vital experience. Illuminating."

"Now I can evaluate my students’ needs and form a focused lesson plan that will be relevant to them. Also, I have a lot of ideas for fun, creative tasks."

"It was most obvious that the trainer’s knowledge and experience in the subject matter is immense...her enthusiasm was a source of inspiration."

ESL Inservice Workshop 1 – 6 hours

Who can attend?

Experienced volunteer tutors who are currently teaching an ESL learner in a qualifying program, have already received the ESL pre-service training, and are registered by their coordinator.

Workshop topics may include:

Teaching Pronunciation
Teaching Multi-level Groups
The Literacy Puzzle
Encouraging Conversation
Citizenship Teacher Training

Material:

Literacy NOW Newsletter
Citizenship: A Guide to Good Teaching

Workshop Comments:

"It was all extremely helpful. The trainer was engaging, mixed up activities to keep it lively, and was extremely responsive. Now, I can better plan, teach, and evaluate the citizenship and ESL components of my tutoring."

"I have a better handle on teaching listening. I think I'll be able to apply a lot of what I learned today directly to my class."

"This class is so important in helping us be better at making lessons. Thanks to your help, we can be more effective and confident."

Talk Time Facilitator Workshop 3.5 hours

What is Talk Time?

Talk Time provides newcomers to the United States with an opportunity to practice whatever English they have with supportive English speakers during informal conversation sessions. The Talk Time Handbook describes the program. One Cambodian farmer explained Talk Time this way:

"In school, the English is in my head. Here, it's in my mouth."

Who can attend?

New volunteer Talk Time facilitators in organized Talk Time sessions who are registered by their coordinator of a qualifying program.

Why attend?

As a result of the workshop, facilitators will be able to

Use different methods to encourage participants to speak English
Plan conversation sessions around topics using a variety of activities
Use strategies for communicating with English speakers of different levels

Material:

Talk Time Handbook

Workshops comments:

"Now I have a game plan. I did not know how to start. I now have a real good sense of direction. I have ideas and an organized way to go about planning them."

Literacy Pre-service Tutor Workshop 10 hours

Who can attend?

Screened, committed literacy volunteers from qualifying programs who have been registered by their coordinators and will teach literacy to adult learners one-on-one, in small groups, or assist a teacher in a basic skills classroom.

Why attend?

As a result of the training, tutors will be able to

Understand the challenges an adult faces when learning literacy
Assess the learner’s purposes and skills in using literacy
Use a variety of methods to teach reading and writing
Plan lessons that meet their learner’s needs
Use materials that relate to the learner’s life

Material:

Literacy in Life: A Handbook for Volunteer Literacy Tutors

Workshop comments:

"I feel more confident meeting a student, breaking down his needs into smaller parts, and having the tools to teach him the skills he needs. I’m less concerned about my task of being a tutor. I don’t have to be all knowing. The student and I can work together."

"I can now improve my lesson planning and the entire relationship with my student. Thanks for such a great training. You have really helped our new tutors feel comfortable and knowledgeable in the beginning of their time with the agency. They were lucky to come to this."

"I feel now that I can help someone further their goals in life by applying what I have learned."

Literacy Inservice Workshop 1 – 3 hours

Who can attend?

Experienced volunteer tutors who are currently teaching a literacy learner in a qualifying program, have already received the literacy pre-service training, and are registered by their coordinator

Workshop topics may include:

Teaching Writing
Ongoing Learner Assessment

Workshop comments:

"I found the assessment tools very helpful and I’m going to use them to help guide my initial lesson planning stage."

"This was very useful! I know more how to offer feedback and also how to demystify writing for my student."

"All of the exercises were helpful, enlightening and thought provoking. I have new ideas and solutions to spelling problems and other issues."

"I thank you for sharing these tools, your teaching methods, and experiences – it helps greatly. I believe I can approach student weaknesses / strengths with more organized ability to log improvements."

"Wonderful trainer, nice, fun, relaxed, open-minded style. You’re great at making us do things that you’re trying to teach without our realizing it!"