Virtual ESL Adult Education Intern

BACKGROUND: The International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to the world’s worst humanitarian crises and helps people to survive and rebuild their lives. At work in over 40 countries and 24 U.S. cities to restore safety, dignity and hope, the IRC leads the way from harm to home. The IRC in Atlanta office was established in 1979 and has resettled over 27,000 refugees from 67 countries into the Greater Atlanta area. As the largest refugee resettlement agency in Georgia, the IRC in Atlanta resettles an average of 250 refugees into Georgia annually and provides additional services and assistance to another 2,500 refugees, immigrants and asylees.

SCOPE OF VIRTUAL ESL ADULT EDUCATION INTERN WORK: The IRC’s Virtual ESL Adult Education Intern assists refugee and immigrant adults in virtual ESL classes to develop the language skills critical for success. The classes aim to build vocabulary and communication skills, convey skills necessary for the American workforce, and impart information about integral life skills and systems so that clients can be successful and productive members of their communities, that they can be civically engaged, and so that they can pursue career pathways of their choice. These classes meet regularly throughout the week, Mondays through Fridays, and offer instruction to adult students at varying levels of English proficiencies, from Basic and Beginning ESL to Advanced. Often multiple levels will be represented within a single class and interns and other class assistants permit the utilization of multiple breakout rooms to separate students by their proficiency level. Instruction is focused on developing literacy, comprehension, and confidence to apply towards real world situations including dealing with housing issues, shopping, the K-12 public school system, public transportation, employment, healthcare, and other daily life skills.

Adult Education interns work under class lead instructors and other IRC Adult Education staff to effectively engage with prospective and current immigrant and refugee clients. This can include a variety of ongoing activities such as:

a)Recruitment and Outreach: providing information about programming, schedule, and expectations around education services.

b)Intake and Orientation: working with clients individually (generally in breakout rooms) to complete enrollment documents, to discuss goals, and schedule a formal proficiency level assessment

c)Classroom Support: assisting lead instructors with logistics and breakout room assignments and leading instruction within those breakout spaces.

d)Retention and Follow-up: conferencing with, surveying, and reconnecting with past participants, assessing goals and identifying appropriate referrals

SPECIAL PROJECT:

A limited number of qualified interns can assist with an accelerated training program for students seeking career development opportunities with a Microsoft Excel credential.

Interns must be able to participate in in-person activities at the IRC Atlanta’s main office.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

·Assist instructor in developing and implementing multi-level comprehension and literacy activities.

·Assist instructor in virtual classroom activities including leading small groups and teaching specific components of the curriculum.

·Supporting the Adult Education program in recruitment and outreach, intake and orientation, classroom support, and retention and follow-up activities.

·Support program activities by researching new curriculum content and preparing educational materials as requested by instructor.