WellesleyESOL
The Wellesley Free Library sponsors WellesleyESOL, a program for people who live and/or work in Wellesley and for whom English is a new language. Dedicated volunteers provide beginning through advanced tutoring and classroom instruction to help develop language skills necessary for successful participation in the community. Students acquire language skills and an understanding of life in the United States through reading, writing, speaking and listening in a welcoming environment.
Watch a short video about Wellesley ESOL.
ESOL Coordinator: Doreen Soderling
Email: wellesleyesol@minlib.net
Voicemail: 781-591-1247
Complete the student application form below and you will be contacted via email.
Student Application Form
Schedule of Classes: Fall 2023
Contact Doreen to register.
Monday:
| Intermediate/Advanced | Kate | 9:00 AM – 10:00 AM (Zoom) |
| Beginner | Matthew | 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM (Zoom) |
Tuesday:
| Intermediate/Advanced Conversation | Stephanie | 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM (Zoom) |
| Advanced Beginner (Begins 9/12/23) | Carolyn | 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM (In-person: Room 204) |
| Citizenship Class/Advanced (Begins 9/25/23) | Kiera | 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM (In-person: Room 204) |
| Low Intermediate (Begins 9/12/23) | Carolyn | 11:30 AM – 12:30 PM (In-person: Room 204) |
| Advanced Beginner (Begins 9/12/23) | Carolyn | 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM (In-person: Room 204) |
| Short Stories (10/3/23 – 11/21/23) | Alex | 12:30 PM – 1:30 PM (Zoom) |
| Intermediate/Advanced (Begins 9/26/23) | Kate | 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM (Hybrid: Zoom & Room 204) |
Wednesday:
| Intermediate Conversation (Begins 10/4/23) | Tanya | 9:30 AM – 10:30 AM (In-person: Room 204) |
Thursday:
| NY Times Discussion (Begins (9/28/23) | Christine | 9:30 AM – 10:30 AM (Friendly Aid Building) |
| Topics in American Politics (3/30/23 – 5/25/23) | Kiera | 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM (In-person: Room 102) |
Friday:
| Drop In Casual Conversations (Begins 9/15/23) | Lilia | 9:00 AM – 10:00 AM (Room 102) |
Helpful Resources
Mango Languages
Mango is designed to equip you with conversational abilities from the very start. Whether you’re learning how to order a pizza or ask when the game starts, Mango immerses you in real, everyday conversations in 60 different language courses and ESOL instruction for speakers of 18 languages. The newest feature is language learning through film with popular films in their native language.
MassLINKS
MassLINKS provides access to free educational services for residents of Massachusetts supporting their educational attainment and employability through standards basic skills and/or English language instruction, workplace readiness instruction, and college preparation activities. All instruction and services are delivered remotely.
News For You Online
This interactive site uses real news articles to help with learning to read, write, speak, and understand English. Seven new stories are posted each Wednesday along with audio, exercises, vocabulary, a crossword puzzle, and a poll. Listen to each article in full, or sentence-by-sentence. Click on any story to get started or to hear and see a sample. You will need a password to enjoy all the features of this site. Please email us for the password.
PressReader offers 7000 daily newspapers and magazines from 120+ countries in 60 languages using a computer or mobile app. Using either a computer or mobile app, you’ll find global news from the world’s most reputable journalists and sources, including The Washington Post, The Guardian, and The Globe and Mail. Explore magazines on a wide range of topics including art, science, business and history. Click here for a tutorial on how to use PressReader.
Volunteer Position Description: ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) Tutor/Teacher
Purpose:
To help adults whose first language is not English learn to speak, understand, read, and write English.
To help broaden students horizons through a one-to-one tutoring relationship or through small group instruction.
Responsibilities:
Prepare lesson plans based on the needs and interests of the student.
Select materials and approaches that are suitable for the student’s ability and needs.
Respect the student by involving him/her in decisions about the learning process.
Encourage the student by praising him/her and by showing a positive attitude about learning.
Guide the student in his/her understanding of American culture.
Reporting:
Complete periodic progress reports.
Keep in contact with the ESOL Program Coordinator about changes or problems.
Recommended training:
Attend an ESOL tutor training workshop series, held at regular intervals at the Wellesley Free Library and other locations. Workshops meet for 2+ hours weekly for a five week period. Check with the ESOL Coordinator for additional training details.
Support:
Round-table meetings and refresher training opportunities for tutors/teachers to share questions and concerns.
Language learning materials collection on the second floor of the Library.
Time Commitment:
Weekly for 60-90 minutes for a minimum of nine months, plus prep time. (Of course, you are allowed to have vacations!)
Tutor Training Program Fall 2023
Welcome to the Wellesley ESOL Tutor Training Program at the Wellesley Free Library! Dedicated volunteers play an integral role in this program’s success, and we are delighted to have you with us.
By the end of this program, you will be able to:
- Identify and prioritize English Language Learners’ specific needs
- Develop scaffolded, multimodal, and practical activities/lessons
- Select appropriate resources to support language acquisition
- Implement and cultivate culturally sensitive communication strategies
Sessions will be held on Tuesdays from 6:30pm to 8:00pm via Zoom.
|
Session |
Date |
Topics |
|
1 |
October 10
|
Diagnostics & Collaborative Goal Setting Principles of Adult Education & Cross-Cultural Communication |
|
2 |
October 17
|
Teaching Speaking & Listening Teaching Pronunciation |
|
3 |
October 24
|
Teaching Reading & Writing Teaching Grammar & Vocabulary |
|
4 |
October 31
|
Lesson Planning Assessment Methods |
About the Facilitator:
Angela Tribus Ramos is the Associate Director of English Language Programs at Brandeis University. She holds an MA in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages from the School for International Training graduate institute in Vermont and a BA in International Studies from Juniata College in Pennsylvania. Angela is a Returned Peace Corps Volunteer (RPCV) and has taught English to speakers of other languages in Ecuador, China, Costa Rica and the United States. She directed a nonprofit community learning center and served as a teacher educator for the Costa Rican Ministry of Public Education for seven years before returning to the United States. Her research interests include Roman Jakobson’s Communicative Functions of Language; Social-Cognitive Theory in Language Acquisition; and Teaching Pronunciation. She has presented at NCTE, TESOL, ElliiCon, and other regional and national conferences, and she is a member of the Global Brandeis working group, whose aim is to identify and promote pathways that emphasize social justice as a primary goal of international education.