Catholic Charities of Northeast Kansas’ Citizenship Education Program offers civics, literacy, and interview preparation classes to refugees and immigrants who are eligible to apply for U.S. Citizenship. The purpose of the Citizenship Education Program is to provide high-quality civics and literacy instruction relevant to the Naturalization process and the USCIS Citizenship Interview Test.

Volunteer Teacher

The volunteer teacher will act as the lead instructor of Citizenship class. This volunteer position will focus on preparing materials and delivering lessons for classes, taking attendance, and student record-keeping, managing volunteer tutors, and providing general classroom support. Volunteers will help teach either level B (beginning) or level C (intermediate) students at one of the listed locations, depending on the needs of the program.

Duties:

• Attend a Tutor Training and Teacher Training Workshops related to adult ESL education and the naturalization process and USCIS Citizenship Test.
• Using the provided lesson plans and activities, help adults master English reading, writing, listening, and speaking skills as well as the civics content necessary for the USCIS Citizenship Test.
• Track and report attendance to Citizenship Program Coordinator
• Assist Citizenship Program staff with testing.
• Collect and file student work.
• Periodically review student goals and progress.
• Lead volunteer tutors in one-on-on and small group tutoring lessons during class times, sometimes acting as a tutor when not enough tutors are present.
• Establish good rapport with students and respond to their individual learning needs.
• Set up and clean up before and after classes.
• Ensure classes are engaging, effective, and meaningful for both students and volunteers.
• Maintain communication with Catholic Charities and KCKPL Library staff, if teaching at a library location.

Qualifications:

• 18 years old and older
• An interest and commitment to the program’s goals
• Patience and motivation to work with adult learners with limited English proficiency
• Flexibility in working with multi-level groups of students with varying English skills
• Ability to read, write, and speak English well (there is no need to speak a second language to volunteer in the program)
• Experience in education with diverse populations (preferred)
• Experience working with diverse backgrounds (preferred)
• An unceasingly positive attitude
• Punctual, reliable, and friendly

  Volunteer Tutor

  The volunteer tutor will focus primarily on leading one-on-one and small group tutoring groups, and providing general classroom support to citizenship education staff members. Volunteers will help tutor either level B (beginning) or level C (intermediate) students at one of the listed locations, depending on the needs of the program

  Duties:

  • Assist Citizenship Program Coordinator with assessment testing
  • Receive training and teach civics and literacy with provided lesson plans and activities
  • Lead one-on-one and small group tutoring lessons during class times (potential opportunity for one-on-one tutoring outside of regularly scheduled class times)
  • Assist Citizenship Program Coordinator with collecting and filing student work
  • Receive training to act as a mock interviewer for Citizenship interview preparation

   

  Qualifications:

  • Fluency in English
  • 18 years old and older
  • Experience working with diverse backgrounds and families experiencing poverty preferred
  • Experience in education with diverse populations preferred
  • Patience and motivation to work with adult learners with limited English proficiency
  • Punctual and reliable