NDMV AmeriCorps Adult Education Associate

BACKGROUND: The International Rescue Committee (IRC) is at work in over 40 countries and 25 U.S. cities helping people to survive, reclaim control of their future and strengthen their communities. The IRC’s locally-funded office in Atlanta opened in 1979 and creates opportunities for refugees and immigrants to integrate and thrive in Georgia communities. The Atlanta office resettles over 500 refugees each year and serves an additional 3,400 refugees, immigrants and asylees in the state of Georgia with a diverse offering of programs that ensure families are empowered to rebuild their lives in communities throughout the state. Since our opening in 1979, the IRC in Atlanta has welcomed more than 27,000 refugees from 67 different countries to rebuild their lives in Georgia communities.

SCOPE OF ADULT EDUCATION WORK: The IRC’s Adult Education program works to address the language and job skills needs of refugee and immigrant adults through multiple classes operating year-round. More than 90% of the individuals that the IRC in Atlanta resettles each year are considered to have low English proficiency, limiting employment opportunities and the ability to fully participate in their new communities. All newly arrived families participate in a multi-day orientation program covering a wide range of topics to support community integration. English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) class curriculum is designed to deliver multi-proficiency level lessons for adult language learners and includes workforce and digital literacy components. Instruction is focused on developing vocabulary and confidence for dealing with real world situations such as financial literacy and budgeting, navigating the community and public transportation, employment expectations, and other daily life skills. In addition to the ESOL class, newly arrived adults are expected to attend a Vocational ESOL program to develop both language and workforce skills. Digital Literacy classes develop learners' capacity with technology including computer and smartphone tools, apps, and platforms.

This year, the IRC in Atlanta will utilize two NDMV AmeriCorps Adult Education Associates. These members will have some shared responsibilities, collaboratively teaching ESOL and Digital Literacy classes, and some distinct responsibilities, cultural and community orientations and job skills vocational ESOL classes. Both members will be an active part of the IRC’s Adult Education instructional team and will lead programs that have direct programmatic outcomes. The hours of this position are typically between 8:30am-4:30pm, Monday through Friday.

PLEASE NOTE: This position is a Notre Dame Mission Volunteer (NDMV) AmeriCorps position. AmeriCorps oversight will be conducted through NDMV of Atlanta, and the IRC will serve as a site placement. For more information about NDMV, please visit http://www.ndmva.org. Candidates will need to complete the AmeriCorps application process through the NDMV site liaison in addition to the IRC’s interview and selection process.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

Support the ESOL class program and Digital Literacy class program

oPlan and deliver daily classes through co-teaching, with curricula focused on basic through intermediate language learning, digital literacy skills, and integrated life skills.

oGuide and support Adult Education classroom assistants, both volunteers and interns, as they facilitate small leveled group instruction and one-one-one instruction.

Support the Cultural Orientation program / the Vocational ESOL class program

oPlan and prepare orientations following organizational guidelines and federal learning objectives. Deliver orientation sessions through interpretation to groups of families.

oTrack individual progress through orientations, keeping documentation and maintain communication with logistics and case management teams.

oPlan and deliver daily Vocational ESOL classes through co-teaching, with curricula focused on basic through intermediate language learning and workforce skills.

oCollaborate with the IRC’s Economic Empowerment early employment team to improve Vocational ESOL class curriculum and to align focus towards current workforce priorities.

Administer English language assessments to measure student progress and gains.

Support program activities through developing and preparing educational materials and research of effective curriculum content.

Assist with record-keeping and data entry to support program administration and compliance with programmatic requirements. Document student progress by keeping accurate and up-to-date attendance records, case notes, assessment data, program participant surveys, and observation of student progress.

Maintain a positive learning environment. Facilitate student learning activities that build cultural and community knowledge and encourage collaboration and positive peer support.

Maintain open and effective communication with adult education team members. Report regularly on program goals, client attendance, learning activities, student progress and any problems or concerns with clients or program.

Actively participate in regularly scheduled staff meetings.

The IRC is an Equal Opportunity Employer. IRC considers all applicants on the basis of merit without regard to race, sex, color, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status or disability.