Questions & Answers
How do I become a tutor?
Make a minimum nine-month volunteer commitment, attend a four session training workshop, and meet with the coordinator to choose a student.
What qualifications do I need to be a tutor?
We need people who can speak English fluently and articulate clearly. Being a good listener, and having an interest in/sensitivity to other cultures helps. Because every student has different needs and abilities, you will need to be able to design lessons and solve problems independently-having some initiative and creativity are very important.
When are the training workshops?
They are normally scheduled on Tuesday or Thursday evenings, in late September and late January. Check with the coordinator for the dates of the next training workshop.
Is it possible to skip the training and begin tutoring right away?
If you already have relevant training or experience, talk to the coordinator. In some cases it is possible to make a placement with a student without waiting for the next training workshop.
What time of day do tutors meet their students?
It depends on your schedule. For example, if you have free time in the morning, you will be placed with a student who also has free time in the morning. Tutors can meet with students in the morning, afternoon, evening, or weekends.
How many students are currently working with volunteer tutors?
The number ranges from 30 to 50 at any given time of year.
Can college students volunteer as tutors?
Yes-as long as you're able to make a two semester commitment.
I will be out of town for most of the summer. Can I still be a tutor?
Yes-as long as you're able to continue tutoring when you return.
Are people with disabilities welcome as tutors?
As long as you are able to hear and speak clearly, we will work to find a placement that works for you (and your student).
How much time is involved?
Tutors generally meet with a student for two sessions a week. A session with a beginner may be only 45 minutes long. More advanced students may want to meet for 90 minutes or longer. You and your student can work out the schedule that seems best for your particular situation.
Why is a minimum nine month (or two semester) commitment required?
It takes some time for students and tutors to get accustomed to working together and to begin to achieve some momentum. It can be very discouraging for students to get used to a new tutor (or be placed back on a waiting list) every few months, and, of course, it slows down progress.
How long does it take for a limited English speaker to become fluent in English?
This varies a great deal, depending on the individual's previous education, age, daily exposure to English, level of motivation, level of support from family members/co-workers, etc. Some students stay in the program for several years. Others study for a short time, then move on to other programs/opportunities.
Where does the tutoring take place?
There are study rooms available for tutors to use during regular library hours, but you can meet anywhere that is convenient for you and your student. For example, some pairs meet at their workplace, their home, the Bangs Community Center, or the Amherst College Library.
Do I need to speak the language of my student?
No. ESL teachers use English to teach English. The training workshop will provide you with a variety of techniques for teaching English without the need for translation.
I want to practice my Spanish (or another language). Can I do a language exchange with a student who speaks this language?
There are a few things to keep in mind with “language exchange” situations. Immigrants in the program are often working people with many family responsibilities. For both people to practice both languages will take twice as much time as a normal ESL tutoring arrangement. A language exchange will only be practical for students who have a good deal of free time. Another thing to consider is that some of the students have limited educational backgrounds (in their native language). They may not speak a standard dialect or be able to read and write it as well as they would like to. A language exchange will require finding a student who feels enough confidence in his/her oral and written language skills to feel comfortable teaching them to others.
What will I learn in the tutor training workshop?
Fundamental concepts of second language acquisition, practical tips for communicating across a language barrier, special problems of adult learners, cultural differences, components of language, assessing language abilities, various activities for teaching speaking, listening, reading & writing, pronunciation, error correction, planning.
What do the students want to learn?
Different students ask for help with different things. Most students want to improve their listening/speaking skills and would like to be able to communicate better in everyday life (e.g. with co-workers, neighbors, school personnel, health care providers, on the phone, etc.). Some also want to be able to read and write better for everyday life or in the workplace. Some students have a specific goal in mind, such as getting a job, a drivers' license, or a GED, becoming a U.S. citizen, or passing a college entrance test. After some time in the U.S. immigrants may be able to communicate basic information without difficulty, but they often say that they want to sound ‘educated” and that they want to be able to discuss topics/ideas that are more sophisticated than the basic “survival” topics that occupy beginners in their first few years.
Do the students have any formal education already?
Some are former professionals, or even PhD's in their native countries. Others have never had the opportunity to study-even in their native language. Some can read English but don't understand it when it is spoken rapidly. Others have learned to speak English, but can read very little. There is a wide variety of needs, interests and abilities among the students in the program, and this is why instruction is tailored to each individual student.
Where are the students from?
About half of our students come from various Asian countries (China, Korea, Vietnam, Cambodia) and others are from Latin America or Eastern Europe.
Why/how do immigrants come to the US?
Some are refugees who have left their countries due to religious/political persecution. Others have gotten immigrant visas through family members who have naturalized or as spouses of US citizens. There are a number of families who came as dependents of a foreign student who eventually secured employment with US company. A few are even winners of the “diversity visa lottery” program. In almost every case, people decided to come to/stay in the US because they believed there were better opportunities for themselves and their children here.
Why/how do immigrants end up in the Amherst area?
Often they come here to join family members or friends in the area. Sometimes immigrants tell us that they believe Amherst is a quiet, safe, and friendly place and that they like the schools here. A number of our students have come here to work in area restaurants and farms.
How will I be matched with a student?
At the tutor training workshop there will be a list that describes the various students waiting for tutors and their schedules. You can choose someone from the list, or you can meet with the coordinator and tell her about your schedule, and any preferences for age, level, nationality, etc. She will then offer several possible students for you to select from.
What if my student and I just don't "click"?
Most pairs work well together, but occasionally things don't work out. There are always more students on the waiting list, so we'll work on a new placement for you without hard feelings.
What kind of assistance will be available to me once I get started tutoring?
The coordinator can help you find materials or identify activities/strategies that would be appropriate for your student. She will provide referral information or advice if your student is interested in getting additional training, employment, social service or citizenship assistance. If you are having difficulties of some kind with your student, she will try to find out what the problem is work out a solution. She can also write a letter of recommendation for you based on your volunteer service with the library.
How do I contact the coordinator?
The ESL Office is in the back of the library on the lower level. Office hours are Mon 1-5 and Tues-Fri 9:30-1:30. You can leave a message anytime at (413) 259-3093 or at esl@joneslibrary.org