English Language Learning and High School Completion Volunteer Opportunities
Do you have talents that could help your community? Volunteer with us today!
Hawkeye’s English Language Learning (ELL) and High School Completion (HSC) classes at the Van G. Miller Adult Learning Center operate on the semester-system with 16-week fall and spring semesters as well as more limited special summer options.
The English Language Learning program offers eight levels of free English classes for adult immigrants and refugees. Classes include language, literacy, reading, writing, listening, speaking, vocabulary, grammar, pronunciation, math, financial literacy, digital literacy, family literacy, civics, citizenship, life skills, work skills, and school skills. Learn more about the English Language Learning program.
The High School Completion program provides classes for students who are studying to earn their High School Equivalency Diploma by completing the HiSET exams. Classes focus on building the skills necessary for success, which includes reading, writing, math, social studies, and science, as well as providing digital literacy and college preparation. Remedial instruction in reading and math is also provided for students who need to first develop those skills to be successful in the program. Learn more about the High School Completion program.
We are currently searching for a dedicated volunteer who would like to help coordinate our volunteers. In the meantime, we will not be onboarding or accepting applications for new volunteers. If you are interested in applying for the dedicated volunteer position, please contact Laura Hidlebaugh, Director of Adult Education and Literacy Programs, at laura.hidlebaugh@firstnews-extra.com or 319-296-4278.
Volunteer Positions
In the role of a Career Advisor you provide guidance, motivation, emotional support, and be a role model. You will help guide the student to explore careers, complete applications, set goals, develop connections in the community, and identify resources needed in the community.
Key Responsibilities
- Understand the needs that are relevant to the student's goals.
- Assess students’ personal characteristics, skills, and interests to find appropriate potential employment.
- Research the local job market for open positions.
- Provide advice on resumes, applications and interview techniques.
- Refer students to the Transition Specialist, as needed, to help students get the information they need about furthering their education.
- Help the student to set goals.
- Help the student understand the barriers they are facing.
- Provide positive motivation and encouragement.
- Complete a Google Form to document progress after each advisory session and record volunteer hours.
The Classroom Assistant will help the students in the classroom that need additional support.
In this role, the Classroom Assistant will:
- Assist the English Language Learning or High School Completion classroom instructor as needed/asked
- Engage with the students in the classroom setting
- Assist students who need additional support to become independent learners.
Key Responsibilities
- Help students understand instructions/assignments given by instructors.
- Explain challenging content or concepts.
- Give extra examples or explanations.
- Provide positive motivation and encouragement.
- Assist with activities and tasks.
- Assist with classroom technology (laptop, iPad, Gmail, etc.)
- Help with general classroom management by keeping students engaged.
A Conversation Partner is a person who will help English Language Learning students practice and improve English through conversations.
In this role, the Conversation Partner will:
- Help English Language Learning students practice and improve their English through conversations
- Drive conversations in an engaging manner
- Ask open-ended questions and get the student talking
- Give the student positive feedback on how to improve pronunciation and vocabulary if you are comfortable doing so.
Key Responsibilities
- Help student practice and improve English
- Provide positive motivation and encouragement.
- Ask open-ended questions to get the student talking
Conversation Partners can meet face-to-face or virtually.
As an Interview workshop volunteer, you will be helping our students get job-ready by giving the student practice interviews. Volunteers will conduct a mock interview with our students and will evaluate their interviewing skills. These "interviews" help the students put what they know and what they don't know about an interview to work. The students should come dressed in their formal business attire and bring copies of their new resumes, ready to impress. Mock Interviewers are asked to give feedback to the students to help them understand what businesses will be looking for.
Resume writing is a vital component of any job search. Students will have the opportunity to learn how to create an effective resume or improve the one they already have. The workshop will guide the student in the use of online resume building. Resume Writing volunteers are needed to help students understand the importance of a good resume. Students wanting help with resume writing will be offered workshops.
Tutors will help students at the Van G. Miller Adult Learning Center understand and learn academic subject matter classes in subject areas (math, writing/grammar, vocabulary, reading, science, social studies, digital literacy, and college preparation) and assist students to become independent learners.
Key Responsibilities
- Understand the subject matter that is relevant to the student's tutoring needs.
- Help students understand assignments given by instructors.
- Document students’ progress to share with the instructor.
- Help students prepare for a test by reviewing the material.
- Create a fun learning environment.
- Provide positive motivation and encouragement.
Tutors must be available one hour before class, one hour after class, or times the tutor and student pre-arrange.
Tutors can meet face-to-face or virtually.
Qualifications
Volunteers must:
- Be at least 18 years old,
- Have a high school diploma or equivalency,
- Be able to pass a background check, and
- Complete our volunteer orientation.
The ideal candidate:
- Has experience working with students (English Language Learning, High School Completion, adults, young adults, immigrants/refugees) and working one-on-one or in small groups.
- Is competent in relevant aforementioned skill areas and the ability to guide the student to improve their academic performance.
- Has excellent verbal and written communication skills.
- Has effective time management.
Bilingual or multilingual is a plus.
Training and Support
Volunteers will come to Van G. Miller Adult Learning Center for an orientation and set up training before beginning the job assignment. The Department of Education requires volunteers to receive six hours of pre-service training. Support is given by the Volunteer Coordinator as needed, as well as support from the classroom instructor and program manager/coordinator.
Benefits
This position offers the volunteer a multitude of benefits including making a difference in the life of a student at Van G. Miller Adult Learning Center, building their resume, gaining tutoring experience with adult students, completing volunteer hours, and expanding personal and professional networks.