Guest Speakers

You don't have to be the "main event" in leading your class - you can invite in a guest speaker!

As we consider our students' interests and needs, we will sometimes find that they have questions we can't answer. Other times, we may want to introduce them to others in the community to help them grow their "network" and feel more at home and connected.

You'll need to think through the purposes for having guest speakers in your class. Have your students asked about them, or do they know nothing about them? Pre-teach vocabulary and concepts the speaker is likely to refer to, and help your students prepare questions for the speaker. Prepare the speaker, also - give them a bit of background on your students' origins and English levels, and remind them to try to avoid idioms and speaking too quickly. While the speaker is talking, watch your students' faces and be ready to step in with clarification questions if you think students are confused; they may not feel comfortable speaking up if they don't understand something.

Consider inviting these guest speakers to attend:

  • school district liaison

  • public librarian

  • financial educator or bank/credit union representative

  • higher education program representative - GED, community college, vocational school

  • pastor

  • Social Services worker

  • public safety officer (police, fire, ambulance, 911 operator)

  • Citizenship and Immigration Services staff person

  • Department of Motor Vehicles representative

You might also bring a variety of guests for topics such as interview skills, who can help students understand what to do in a job interview and what they're looking for.

Note: if your classes are made up of many undocumented immigrants, you should choose guests carefully. Students without documentation may be wary of government officials or even just anyone new. ALWAYS give your students notice when someone new will be coming to the class in a teaching, guest speaking, or observing capacity, preferably 2 or more classes before so that students who only attend occasionally will hear the news and be able to prepare.