Classroom Volunteer Job Descriptions:

Floating Volunteer/Classroom Monitor

Purpose/Description:

Volunteer circulates through classroom to monitor learner progress during activities.

Possible tasks:

  • Focus on the particular grammar point of the lesson
  • Focus on particular pronunciation point of the lesson
  • Focus on spelling
  • Check for general understanding of task
  • Error correction
  • Check for comprehension
  • Answer questions
  • Monitor individual, pair or group activities and report progress/problems to teacher

Important:

  • Floating should have a purpose! Make sure that you know what is being focused on during the activity/lesson.
  • Ask the teacher what is expected of the learners.
  • Make sure you monitor and help as many learners as possible.

Small Group Leader

Purpose/Description:

These volunteers are intended to work with a small group of learners on either tasks being completed that day in class, or areas in which the learners needs extra attention.

Possible tasks:

  • Lead pre-reading and follow-up activities
  • Lead pre-writing and follow-up activities
  • Lead a discussion
  • Monitor a game
  • Lead reading groups
  • Address special needs that all the learners in group have in common

Important:

Make sure that you know the intended purpose of the session. What’s the focus? What does the teacher expect of the learners?

1-1 Helper

Purpose/Description:

One to one volunteers may focus on either tasks being completed that day in class, or areas in which the learner needs extra attention.

Possible tasks (1-1 Helper continued):

  • Help teacher complete the skill/knowledge progress assessments
  • Meet with learners to conduct personal interview re: learning goals, preferences, learner assessment of ESL class
  • Review previous lesson plan with learner who was absent or who needs additional work on topic
  • Work with flash cards
  • Work on writing skills
  • Reading partner
  • Provide extra conversation time for learners who are reticent to speak in class
  • Provide more challenging work for advanced learners
  • Assist learner who may have special need for upcoming life event that rest of class does not need to focus on at that time; ie: driving test, job interview, etc.

Important:

Again, make sure that you know the intended purpose of the session. What’s the focus? What does the teacher expect of this learner?

Lead part of class

Purpose/Description:

A volunteer who is leading part of the class is taking a segment of the lesson. This gives the teacher time to float, work 1-1 or observe class from a different perspective. It is also valuable for the learners to hear a different voice and work with differing teaching styles.

Possible tasks:

  • Lead pre-reading, pre-writing and pre-teaching tasks
  • Lead follow-up activities
  • Lead and participate in mingles
  • Present new vocabulary
  • Demonstrate and lead games

Important:

The volunteer will absolutely need specific instructions as to the expectations of his/her part of class, what materials they will need, time limit, preparations, etc.

Classroom Assistant

Purpose/Description:

This volunteer may help with a variety of tasks and needs of the teacher.

Possible tasks:

  • Assist in demonstrations (mock role-play, directions to a game, etc.)
  • Handing out papers, supplies, etc.
  • Making copies
  • Signing students in
  • Making activity supplies, ie: cut-outs for games, laminating pictures, collecting realia/visuals