Am I qualified? If you speak, read, and write English competently, and you are willing….then yes, you are! If you have no experience, we can usually arrange for you to work with an experienced tutor. And if you would like more structured preparation, we can arrange for you to take an online course developed by one of our partner organizations. We also are available for support and assistance, and we periodically arrange tutor get-togethers to share ideas and inspiration.
Who are the students? We currently have students in various areas of Otsego and Delaware Counties. A few are native speakers of English who want to improve their reading and/or writing skills, but most of them are English language learners. Those students’ English levels range widely: some are very fluent and ready to work on reading and writing in English; a few are beginners, and others are intermediates.
What am I supposed to do? Help your student learn and practice English. We can provide books and workbooks at your student’s level, if that’s what you’d like to use. Simple conversation goes a long way, too. And not all learning need happen with the two of you at a desk, hunched over a book – you can take a trip to the grocery store or a walk in the park, for instance.
When and how often do I meet with my student? That’s up to you and the student, but with language learning, more is always better! To reach our organization’s goals, we try to achieve 30 hours between September and early June, and so tutors usually meet with their students once or twice a week for about an hour. Sometimes tutors pair up and share the work.
Where do I meet with my student? The recommendation is to meet in public spaces – the library, a café, even outdoors in summer. In some cases, tutors go to their students’ homes; our office is also available much of the week.
What problems will I encounter? Maybe none! But most likely, scheduling will be a challenge; our students have complicated lives, changing work schedules, kids, and all the complications that come with daily life. And, like most students everywhere, they will sometimes simply want to skip class. Plus, you have your own life to deal with! Very likely, there will be cancellations and changes, and your patience may be stretched thin. It happens all the time, but we just try to shake it off and keep on keeping on.
What’s in it for me? If you’ve read this far, you no doubt already know the rewards of helping others. Our tutors regularly report that they learn a great deal and that they get more than they give. Fun, learning, friendship, love, laughs … we have it all!
