Stevenson College Edinburgh are currently recruiting for volunteer tutors of English to work with a growing number of residents in Edinburgh who want to learn English but, for a range of reasons, cannot attend classes on a regular basis.
Volunteers receive full training and support from the college as well as tutoring experience and references for job applications. Information sessions are being help on Friday 20 and 27 January 2012 at the College's Duncan Place campus in Leith.
Running for over 10 years, the college’s CBESOL (Community Based English for Speakers of Other Languages) volunteer tutor scheme has successfully supported over a thousand students looking to learn English.
The volunteer tutor scheme was introduced to address the growing need for access to language support in parts of Edinburgh, allowing students to learn on a one-to-one basis in their own homes at flexible times.
Jean Howat, Lecturer at Stevenson College Edinburgh, said: “Each student has a reason to improve their English skills – whether to help them through everyday life or gain employment. Every year we have up to 100 students who are committed to learning English, but unable to attend classes regularly due to family and work commitments or health issues.
“The scheme has been running for over a decade now and its success is in the mutual benefits it brings to both volunteers and tutors who receive full training and support.”
Volunteer tutor Tsvetellina Assenova, Edinburgh, has gained employment as an ESOL Tutor at Pilton Equalities Project as a result of her experience tutoring with the college. She said: “Volunteering has broadened my horizons and made me realise that there is so much to experience outside Europe.
“I struck up a friendship with one of my students who inspired me to buy a bilingual Arabic-English dictionary and phrase books. I have now learnt basic Arabic and also a great deal about the culture.
“Most importantly, volunteering has shown me that although people may speak different languages, have different beliefs and abide by different laws, we are essentially all very much alike and enjoy what we do.”
For more information on becoming a volunteer tutor and to book a place at the next Information Session on Friday 20 or 27 January 2012, phone 0131 535 4630 or visit www.stevenson.ac.uk