Hourly Employment Information and Time Card Instructions

Helpful Information for Noncredit ESL Instructional Aides

Updated December 15, 2016

TIPS for ASSISTING STUDENTS:

• Communicate in English (occasional translation might be requested if you are able)
• Be respectful, patient, and professional
• Try to get to know each student’s strengths and weaknesses and share them with the instructor (out of earshot of students)
• Help late students join in: help them open the book to the right page, get handouts, join the class activity, etc.
• Engage students who finish early: speak to them, review the exercise, give extra tasks (check with instructor), etc.
• Circulate, be proactive, make sure students understood the directions, check students’ answers, offer feedback, correct pronunciation, observe their interactions and facilitate conversations or pair work when appropriate
• Help students do their work but do not do it for them: utilize notepaper or small white boards to assist with spelling/writing, etc.
• Instead of explicit correction, use alternative feedback methods when appropriate (e.g. give hints, remind students of grammar rules, get them to think, ask questions, and elicit correct answers)
• Encourage students to be independent learners. (e.g. have students look up a word in a dictionary instead of telling them the definition)
• Encourage students’ self-reflection and self-evaluation (e.g. ask “What did you learn? How did it go? Was it difficult? Did you enjoy it?” )
• When working with a small group of students, follow the instructor’s lesson plan, engage students in activities, keep student-centered method in mind, and use strategies to reduce the noise level.

Tips for ASSISTING INSTRUCTORS:

• Use effective communication skills for successful partnership
• Be flexible, attentive and proactive in order to support the instructor
• Follow the instructor's lesson plans and guidance (when in doubt, ask the instructor)
• Communicate students’ needs/information to the instructor
• If you are able to support instruction in unique ways, offer them to the instructor (e.g. playing a musical instrument, inviting community visitors, etc.)

TIPS for ORIENTING STUDENTS:

• Be familiar with the course syllabus
• Keep up with the registration rules and deadlines
• Have necessary forms, handouts and other materials for new students ready (e.g. assessment & orientation schedule, application and registration forms, course syllabus, NC ESL class schedule, class calendar, ESL binder, etc.)

TIPS for EL CIVICS ASSESSMENTS:

• Attend mandatory training to be familiar with the tasks and testing requirements
• Contact the EL civics coordinator if you miss the training or have questions
• Create and maintain a record keeping system that works for you and the instructor
• Communicate and coordinate with the instructor on when and how the testing is done
• Help the instructor keep track of students who need to be assessed
• Use strategies to create an optimal EL civics testing environment (e.g. find a quiet place/take a small group at a time, etc.)

TIPS for OTHER DUTIES:

• Refer students to student services if students need job search assistance, medical/legal consulting, academic or family counseling, etc. (keep the information handy)
• Be aware of any changes in our constantly evolving application/registration, timesheet, and other record keeping systems (student attendance, EL civics, etc.)
• Keep the list of instructional aides in the program and contact them in case you need a sub and communicate with the instructor when you have to miss work
• Contact the program assistant or the coordinator when issues come up