Volunteer
How to Start Volunteering:
Complete Application
Potential volunteers should fill out an application to teach at the ESLC. No experience is necessary! Once we receive your application we will contact you soon after.
Register for Training
Click the button below to see available dates for orientation and training. Prospective volunteers must attend one orientation session and a three-part training series. To cover the cost of training and materials, there is a suggested $35 training fee. This fee is optional and can be paid at the time of registration.
Attend Training
At training, volunteers will learn how to use curricula developed by the ESLC, learn the components of a lesson, and how to maximize student learning. TESOL/ESL background cannot be substituted for training.
Complete a Background Check
Between training and before placement, all volunteers must submit to and pass a background check through the Bureau of Criminal Identification. Volunteers pay the $15 fee to complete this background check. Other background checks may not be substitute for BCI background checks. Background checks must be completed before observing ESLC classes.
Get Matched
Once the volunteer has completed training and all necessary paperwork, they will observe a class (or several classes) that interest them. The Community Outreach Director will work with the new volunteer's interests, schedule, and the ESLC's needs to propose a volunteer placement match. Following the match, the new volunteer will team teach with a highly-trained ESLC program coordinator. This coordinator will become the new volunteer's mentor, and will be available to answer all of their teaching questions throughout the volunteer experience. During this time, volunteers get to apply the skills learned in training.
Get Started
After team teaching, volunteers either teach a class of their own or support another teacher as a classroom aid. Classes are typically one or two days per week. From this point on program coordinators are still available to mentor them and to answer their questions.