One-to-One In-Home Tutoring

ONE TO ONE

WELCOME TO THE HOME TUTORING PROGRAM FOR REFUGEES

A Project of the Colorado Refugee ESL Program

"I'm encouraged and sustained by the gratitude and appreciation my student gives me - just for my willingness to spend time with her."

Connecting communities

America is a mix of cultures, dynamic and diverse. You can hear it in our music, taste it in our food. Almost every language on earth is spoken in the United States.

And yet one language dominates.

The ability to speak English is still the key to American society. At school and at work, English is the second language spoken by millions. Being able to speak English can open up worlds of opportunity and provide a path to self-sufficiency.

For refugees, the challenge is immense.

Many are homebound, caring for small children. They may be hesitant to venture into neighborhoods where customs, currency, ways of transportation, and especially language is baffling and strange.

Imagine how they look forward to meeting someone who is willing to teach them, share with them, and help them navigate the 'ins' and 'outs' of our culture.

That someone could be you.

As a volunteer tutor, you don't need to know your student's language or be a professional teacher. All you need is a sensitivity to values and viewpoints born from utterly different life experiences and also a willingness to share your time and energy.

What we need from you

• A minimum 4-month commitment

• Minimum of 2 hours student contact time each week*

• A sensitivity to other cultures

• Resourcefulness, initiative, creative problem solving

• Ability to be self-directed and work independently

What you receive

• Training in tutoring English as a Second Language

• On-going support throughout your tutoring experience. The program coordinator is available to provide you with materials, advice, and assistance.

• In-service workshops

• Personal satisfaction from knowing that you are helping someone

• A new friend

*In-home tutors meet with their students based on a lesson schedule that is mutually agreeable between teacher and student.

If you decide to volunteer, what happens next?

After completing the tutor training, you will be matched with a refugee student. When you schedule your first lesson, the volunteer coordinator will meet you at the refugee's home and introduce you to your student. After that, you and your student work out a meeting schedule that works for both of you, be it evenings, days, or weekends. It is recommended that you meet with your student twice a week for two one-hour sessions.

Where our students are located

Refugees live in apartments and homes throughout the Denver metro area and they pay the same market rents as everyone else. With the current high demand for rental housing in and around Denver, refugees are finding the most affordable housing options on the edges of the metro area. Currently, most of our students live in Aurora along the E. Colfax corridor all the way out to Chambers, in southeast Aurora (Sable and Iliff), Green Valley Ranch, and in Thornton near 88th and Washington. Please keep this in mind as you consider volunteering with us and how far you may need to drive to meet with a student.

Who our students are

In-home students come from many countries and backgrounds and all walks of life. All are refugees. They range in age from 19 to 85 years old. Their employment experience varies from subsistence farming to engineering. Some have no formal education or first-language literacy. Others speak some English but can't read or write. Some have completed college in their countries and are highly literate but don't know any English at all. Many finished their formal education when they completed elementary school or had just a few years of school, which they attended sporadically.

Many students in the program are seniors who are quite isolated but unable to endure the rigors of attending daily classes. Some students are disabled or are the full-time caretakers for disabled family members. Some of our students are employed soon after arriving in the country, and their work schedules do not align with class offerings at school. Our students include many  young mothers who have small children but no access to daycare. Some of our students have experienced intense trauma and are not yet emotionally ready to venture out of their homes. Many of our students simply live too far from school to access the free classes offered at Emily Griffith Technical College.

It's easy to volunteer!

If you would like to volunteer or receive more information, please contact the volunteer manager, or click here for an application. 

There is no need to include a resume or cover letter with your application.