Volunteer Opportunities
Volunteer Opportunities
Partner with people in your community who are learning English, computer skills, preparing for citizenship or the GED. Meet new people and work with them to build literacy skills and achieve their goals through distance education.
Join us!
- No experience or diploma needed - we’ll provide all necessary training.
- English speakers of all levels are welcome and encouraged to volunteer.
- Ability to commit to 2-3 hours per week for at least 3 months required.
- We strongly encourage volunteers who are people of color, indigenous, immigrants and refugees, LGBTQIA2S+ and people with disabilities.
We strive to make our volunteering opportunities accessible to the largest number of people possible. If you have accessibility requirements that you aren't sure could be accommodated in an assignment in which you are interested, please contact us, so we can work together to accommodate you in this or another assignment.
Lead volunteer EL teacher/co-teacher
Are you interested in being a volunteer lead teacher or co-Teacher of an EL class? Do you want to support adult immigrants and refugees as they improve their ability to speak, listen, read, and write English? Then this might be the perfect opportunity for you! Literacy Minnesota is looking for Lead Volunteers interested in partnering with our Open Door Learning Centers and teaching EL classes.
Duties:
- Provide lead instruction, alone or with another volunteer teacher, for EL classes of 5-20 adult learners. User friendly, low-prep, and easy-to-follow curriculum is provided by Literacy MN.
- Prepare for classes ahead of time by reviewing the Literacy MN provided curriculum and materials, and allocating duties to the volunteer classroom assistants.
- Work cooperatively with coordinators and other volunteers to meet the needs of the learners.
- Lead and present large and small group activities.
- Record student attendance and classroom notes.
-
Within 6 months of placement, volunteers must complete a LitMN-sponsored, and State of MN compliant Foundations Training to be fully prepared to teach.
Schedule: Classes run for 1.5 - 2.5 hours a session from Monday-Thursday depending on the site (10am-12pm, 9:30am-12:00pm, 12:00-1:30pm or 6-8pm). Choose one shift per week.
For more information or to get started, please email our volunteer coordinator at meichinger@literacymn.org!
EL classroom assistant
Are you a looking for a way to connect with your community? Do you want to support with adult immigrants and refugees as they improve their ability to speak, listen, read, and write English? Then this might be the perfect opportunity for you! Literacy Minnesota is looking for volunteers interested in partnering with our Open Door Learning Centers as a classroom assistant.
- Volunteers are paired with a teacher who follows a curriculum and leads the class.
- Provide individualized attention to students during class time and help with large and small group activities.
- Work cooperatively with coordinators and other volunteers to meet the needs of the learners.
- Listen actively and encourage learner participation.
- Within 6 months of placement, volunteers must complete a 4-hour LitMN-sponsored, and State of MN compliant Foundations Training to be fully prepared to assist.
Schedule: Classes run for 1.5 - 2.5 hours a session from Monday-Thursday depending on the site (10am-12pm, 9:30am-12:00pm, 12:00-1:30pm or 6-8pm). Choose one shift per week.
For more information or to get started, please email our volunteer coordinator at meichinger@literacymn.org!
Citizenship tutor or assistant
Are you interested in working with an immigrant or refugee as they become an American citizen? Then this might be the perfect opportunity for you! Literacy Minnesota is looking for volunteers interested in partnering with our Open Door Learning Centers and working with an individual adult immigrant or refugee or a small group studying to pass the citizenship (naturalization) test.
- Citizenship one-to-one tutor: Tutor a learner for the citizenship (naturalization) test one day each week for 60-90 minutes. **Remote as well as in-person opportunities may exist.
- Citizenship classroom assistant: In partnership with a volunteer or staff teacher, assist in a classroom of up to 10 learners.
Duties:
- Tutor or assist learners in U.S. history and civics topics.
- Tutor or assist learners in preparing for the naturalization interview and test.
- Prepare for sessions or classes ahead of time by reviewing materials provided by Literacy MN, and making copies of materials as needed.
- Within 6 months of placement, volunteers must complete a 4-hour LitMN-sponsored, and State of MN compliant Foundations Training to be fully prepared to assist.
For more information or to get started, please email our volunteer coordinator at meichinger@literacymn.org!
Computer skills volunteer
Are you interested in working with adult EL learners as they develop and improve their English and computer skills? Would you like to support learners as they explore distance learning platforms? Then this might be the perfect opportunity for you! Literacy Minnesota is looking for volunteers interested in partnering with our Open Door Learning Centers to provide digital literacy as well as distance learning skills to small groups or individual EL learners and native speakers in a computer lab.
Duties:
- Prepare for Digital Literacy lab sessions by becoming familiar with various instructional platforms for practicing basic computer skills.
- Prepare for Distance Learning sessions by becoming familiar with instructional platforms on the computer for learning math, reading and writing English, or other basic skills.
- Work collaboratively with the learner and coordinator to share and document progress toward learner’s goals.
- Assist learners in troubleshooting rudimentary technical issues as they arise.
- Training will be conducted on site with Learning Center staff.
For more information or to get started, please email our volunteer coordinator at meichinger@literacymn.org!
Burlington English lab lead or tutor
Are you interested in volunteering in an English-learning computer lab? Then this opportunity might be perfect for you! Literacy Minnesota is looking for volunteers interested in partnering with our Open Door Learning Centers and working with ESL students improve their communication skills as they participate in on-line interactive courses.
Duties:
- Attend a Literacy Minnesota-sponsored orientation to get familiar with the functions of Burlington English.
- Support students in logging into their Burlington English account during lab time.
- Support students in accessing the correct Student Lesson for the week.
- Support student navigation of BE interface.
- Monitor students while they work through BE Student Lessons.
- Assist when students have trouble with learning content.
- Within 6 months of placement, volunteers must complete a 4-hour LitMN-sponsored, and State of MN compliant Foundations Training to be fully prepared to assist.
For more information or to get started, please email our volunteer coordinator at meichinger@literacymn.org!
Pre-GED reading, writing and/or math skills mentor
Are you interested in working with someone in your community as they work toward their GED? Are you interested in tutoring in math, science, reading and writing? Then this opportunity might be perfect for you! Literacy Minnesota is looking for volunteers interested in partnering with our Open Door Learning Centers and working with an individual or small group studying toward their GED.
Duties:
- Facilitate a study lab with adult learners and develop positive relationships to increase learner persistence.
- Support Skill Practice Lab and Work one on one with learners as they complete reading, writing and math tasks.
- Document attendance and progress; communicate with Program Coordinator & Instructor
- Work with learners to overcome barriers (share resources & follow up, set goals and support time management)
- Within 6 months of placement, volunteers must complete a 4-hour LitMN-sponsored, and State of MN compliant Foundations Training to be fully prepared to assist.
For more information or to get started, please email our volunteer coordinator at meichinger@literacymn.org!