ELL/ESL 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.
• Volunteers must be able to commit to regular attendance at a weekly shift for at least 3 months. 
• Volunteers working online should be familiar with the Zoom platform, navigating multiple windows as well as PDFs, PowerPoint and Google slides, or be willing to learn. 

Location and Schedule: ELL/ESL classroom assistants are needed at our Minneapolis Campus (627 W Broadway) in the evenings in particular from 6-8pm, and occasionally in the mornings from 9am to noon. Online assistants are needed from 10am to noon, 1-3pm or 6-8pm.  

For more information or to get started, please fill out our short application or email Meghan Boyle at [email protected] with questions. 

Citizenship Classroom 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. This is a very satisfying role that has the potential to have a great impact on the lives of individual immigrants! 

Duties:

• Assist an in-person or classroom teacher with all-class activities related to US history and civics topics. 
• Work with learners one-on-one to help them prepare for the naturalization/citizenship interview. 
• Prepare for sessions or classes ahead of time by reviewing materials provided by Literacy MN, and making copies of materials as needed.
• Volunteers working online should be familiar with the Zoom platform, navigating multiple windows as well as PDFs, PowerPoint and Google slides, or be willing to learn. 
• 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.
• Volunteers must be able to commit to regular attendance at a weekly shift for at least 3 months. 

Location and Schedule: Work with learners in-person on Saturdays from 10am to 1:30pm at the Arlington Hills Library in Saint Paul at 1200 Payne Avenue. If you prefer to work online, classes are held Wednesdays from 2:30-6:00pm. 

For more information or to get started, please fill out our short application or email Meghan Boyle at [email protected] with questions. 

ELL/ESL Learning Coach

Are you interested in leading small groups of ELL learners? Would you like to support adult immigrants and refugees who are improving their ability to speak, listen, read, and write English? Do you enjoy working with people of diverse ethnicities and backgrounds? Then this might be the perfect opportunity for you! 

Duties: 

• Work under the direction and support of a staff teacher to support a group of adult English learners from diverse backgrounds.
• Work independently with small groups of learners (up to 9 students) on activities and curriculum provided by the teacher. 
• Collaborate with the learners, teachers and other volunteers to create a learning community to meet the needs and goals of learners.
• Comfortable working semi-independently with groups of up to 9 students, with support and direction from a staff teacher.
• Teaching experience helpful but not required. 
• Volunteers must be able to commit to regular attendance at a weekly shift for at least 3 months. 
• Within 6 months of placement, volunteers must complete a 12-hour LitMN-sponsored, and State of MN compliant Foundations Training to be fully prepared to teach.

Location and Schedule: This position is one or two days a week, Monday to Thursday from 9am to noon and located at our Saint Paul Campus at 1115 Geenbrier Street. 

For more information or to get started, please fill out our short application or email Meghan Boyle at [email protected] with questions. 

Pre-GED Reading/Writing and/or Math Co-Teacher

Help your neighbors prepare for their GED and reach their educational goals! Volunteer as a pre-GED math or reading/writing co-teacher with the Open Door Learning Center - Minneapolis one day per week: Mondays - Thursdays, 10am - 12pm.

Volunteers help learners develop skills and confidence in math or reading/writing. You'll gain teaching experience while making a difference in the life of an adult learner. Volunteers are provided with a curriculum to follow and work with learners 1:1 or in small groups. Volunteers must be able to commit to regular attendance at a weekly shift for at least 3 months. 

Our students are highly motivated and grateful for your help. Join us in making a difference in the community!

For more information or to get started, please fill out our short application or email Meghan Boyle at [email protected] with questions. 

ELL/ESL Co-Teacher

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 in 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 an ELL/ESL Co-Teacher.

• Work under the direction and support of a staff teacher to co-lead a small class of English learners with another volunteer. 
• Use curriculum materials provided by the staff teacher. 
• Collaborate with the learners, teachers and other volunteers to create a learning community to meet the needs and goals of learners.
• Teaching experience helpful but not required. 
• Commit to at least one 2+ hour shift a week for at least one semester on Monday or Thursday evening from 5:30-7:30pm. 
• Within six months of placement, volunteers must complete a 12-hour Literacy Minnesota-sponsored, and State of MN-compliant volunteer training program to be fully prepared to teach.
• This role is located at Hiawatha Academies at 3500 E. 28th St, Minneapolis, MN 55406. 

For more information or to get started, please fill out our short application or email Meghan Boyle at [email protected] with questions. 

ELL/ESL Job Search Coach

Are you a looking for a way to connect with your community? Do you want to support adult immigrants and refugees as they seek employment? 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 an ELL/ESL Job Search Coach. 

Duties: 

• Meet one-on-one with adult students to talk about their work experience and skills.
• Design a resume that describes their skills and experiences clearly to an American employer.
• Help students practice talking about their skills and availability in English.
• Direct students to local job fairs.
• Volunteers must be able to commit to regular attendance at a weekly shift of 10am to noon for at least 3 months. 

Qualifications: 

• Applicants should be patient and curious, have experience working with people with a variety of backgrounds and comfortable with basic word processing and resume formatting.
• Commit to at least one 2+ hour shift a week for at least six months.
• Within six months of placement, volunteers must complete a 4-hour Literacy Minnesota-sponsored, and State of MN-compliant volunteer training program to be fully prepared to teach.
• This role is located at either our Saint Paul (1115 Greenbrier Street) or Minneapolis (627 W Broadway Ave) Campus. 

For more information or to get started, please fill out our short application or email Meghan Boyle at [email protected] with questions. 

Below are in-person volunteering locations offered by Literacy Minnesota. Volunteer placement is by highest need based on site.

Open Door Minneapolis | 627 West Broadway Avenue, Minneapolis, MN 55411 

Open Door Southside at Hiawatha Collegiate High School | 3500 28th Street |  Minneapolis, MN 55406

Open Door Saint Paul | 1115 Greenbrier Street, Saint Paul, MN 55106 

Open Door Midway | 553 Fairview Avenue North, Saint Paul, MN 55104