Tutor English to Refugee and Immigrant Children

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Position Purpose/Summary:

Rebuilding your life in a new country is challenging, even without a language barrier. With over a hundred years of dedicated service to our neighbors in need, Catholic Charities with the crucial help of volunteers, bridge the language gap for refugees and immigrants.

As a volunteer, you will support youth from refugee and immigrant families so that they become confident speakers, readers, and writers of English. Catholic Charities’ tutoring program focuses on basic vocabulary, the alphabet, numbers, and reading.

By strengthening these areas, English language learners are given the foundation they need to be successful at school. Catholic Charities partners with Zablocki Community School (Milwaukee) to match English learners most in need of support with volunteers that are passionate about education. We provide training, resources, and support; however, the volunteer tutor will be responsible for teaching in a way that maximizes the student’s strengths and encourages a love of learning.

Expected Availability and Commitment:

• Works one-on-one with a student at the student’s home, once or twice a week for 45 minutes (plus prep time) at the student's home
• Tutoring may occur on weekdays after school or on weekends
• Participate in a virtual information session and complete on-site and off-site training
• *Note: Due to the time it takes complete training and to find a learner who is a good match, Catholic Charities asks for a 6-month minimum commitment, ideally through the end of the school year

Required Qualifications:

• Must be 18 years old to volunteer alone, or 16 years old to volunteer with the volunteer’s parent present
• Must be comfortable driving to a student’s home in the Milwaukee area (typically on the southside of Milwaukee)
• Comfortable communicating in English to speakers of various levels- English speakers of all levels are welcomed and encouraged to apply

Required Training:

Volunteers will receive training before being matched with a student. They will also have ongoing educational opportunities to enhance their teaching techniques. This includes: periodic check-ins, newsletters, and virtual Volunteer MeetUps that enable collaboration among volunteers and sharing of educational resources.

Slide decks are provided for the first 16 weeks and then support is provided so that volunteers can create their own lessons.

Helpful Skills for the Role:

• People who were English language learners as children themselves or grew-up in immigrant families are encouraged to apply
• No previous experience is necessary; training is provided. Teaching, tutoring, cross-cultural experiences or additional language skills are a plus
• Additional language ability is welcomed

Share your existing skills and experience with your learners. Volunteering with us provides a rewarding cross-cultural opportunity to teach as well as learn from your students with the satisfaction that you are making a difference in their life!

Join our mission to provide service to those in need, to advocate for justice and to call upon others to do the same. Partner with us to improve the lives of those we serve, to empower the most vulnerable, and to help reduce poverty through quality, compassionate, and effective human services.

Contact with Questions:

Caitlyn Proietta, Volunteer Coordinator
Email: volunteer@ccmke.org
Call: (414) 769-3402