4 Learning support assistant esol volunteer roles

About IRMO

IRMO works to enable the development, agency, and participation of Latin Americans and other Spanish and Portuguese speakers, by responding to both immediate needs and structural inequalities. We do this by offering high-quality information and advice services, opportunities for development and training, and a platform to seek social and systemic change. Our work is organised across three main operational areas - Advice and Casework; Education, Training and Employment; Children and Young People - and a cross-cutting area - Advocacy, Research, Policy Mapping and Campaigning. 

About our Education, Training and Employment Programme

Our comprehensive Education, Training and Employment (ETE) programme runs various activities to improve our beneficiaries' social and cultural integration in the UK. These activities include 12-week English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) courses for adults and online conversation classes. 

We also deliver one-to-one employment support, mentoring, vocational training, and workshops on a range of topics to support the Latin American community in navigating the UK system. Additionally, our volunteer scheme provides volunteers with valuable work experience to enter London’s competitive job market. As well as being integral to the smooth running of our organisation, the scheme helps volunteers to develop their skills by working in a multicultural, collaborative and inspiring environment.

About the role

We are looking for a motivated ESOL Teaching Assistant to support the smooth delivery of our ESOL classes at Pre-Entry and Entry 1 levels for Latin American migrants and refugees. You will assist the ESOL Teacher with classroom delivery following our pre-prepared syllabus and teaching materials, along with a variety of audio-visual aids to improve learners’ speaking, listening, reading and writing skills in English.

As an ESOL Teaching Assistant, you will encourage learners to communicate using the structures and vocabulary they have learnt, with a strong emphasis on dialogue and role-playing, alongside more formal exercises and language games.

We are seeking a volunteer holding either a formal teaching qualification (e.g. CELTA, CertESOL or similar) or prior experience in teaching English to speakers of other languages. 

Main tasks and responsibilities

• Support with the planning, preparation and delivery of high-quality ESOL lessons in a community setting

• Mark and provide appropriate feedback on oral and written work

• Guide the class according to the syllabus and learning outcomes as instructed

• Ensure learners participation during class and monitor attendance

• Create a safe and inclusive learning environment, identify gaps and adapt activities to learners’ needs

• Provide one-to-one learner support in class as required, to ensure needs relating to learning difficulties and disabilities are met

• Prepare and set exercises, materials and examination papers as necessary

• Undertake administrative tasks, such as keeping student registers and attendance records

• Provide logistical support with arranging the room, setting out refreshments and class tidy upContribute towards outcome and impact measurement for learners at the end of each term

We are looking for

• A recognised ESOL qualification, such as those listed on the TESOL website, is essential (e.g. TEFL or CELTA) or equivalent experience

• Verbal and written communication skills in English and either Spanish and/or Portuguese

• A flexible and enthusiastic person who is confident working in a multicultural and multilingual environment

• An empathetic approach to working with beneficiaries whose needs may vary or change over time

• Ability to work resourcefully and in collaboration with others

• Good IT skills, including in using Microsoft and Google suite packages, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and databases

• Good interpersonal and communication skills with attention to detail

• A caring, sensitive and non-judgemental manner

• Knowledge of how to deal with sensitive and confidential information

• Ability to learn quickly and adapt to CRM systems

• Committed to IRMO's mission, vision and values

Additional requirements

• Two references from current/previous employers

• Enhanced DBS Check (completed through IRMO)

• Safeguarding Level 1 certificate (completed through IRMO)

• One month trial period

Benefits of volunteering at IRMO

• You will get the opportunity to help others and to give back

• You will learn new skills and gain experience working in a multicultural, cooperative and inspiring environment

• You will contribute to the Latin American Community and increase your knowledge of the situation of Latin American migrants in the UK

• You will gain valuable experience and strengthen previous skills to help prepare yourself for the UK’s competitive job market

• You will enhance your CV and get references (after a 3-month period) for further support with employability

• You will have the opportunity to participate in training sessions with high-quality learning outcomes (in-house and external) in areas related to the role

• You will receive regular supervision and support

At IRMO, we are committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive environment. We actively encourage applications from individuals with protected characteristics, including race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, disability, and age. 

We particularly invite Latin Americans, those who identify as members of underrepresented and marginalised communities, and individuals with lived experience of the immigration and asylum system, to reflect the community we serve. 

We are dedicated to ensuring accessibility in our recruitment process and volunteer opportunities. If you have specific accessibility needs, please let us know, and we will make necessary accommodations.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT

Support our tutors and help learners, who are all Homes for Ukraine Guests in Nottinghamshire, build confidence in English, while assisting with learning materials, learner records and progress information.

The Afghanistan and Central Asian Association (ACAA) is an award-winning British charity. ACAA provides advice, support, education, training, volunteering opportunities and social and cultural activities, with a strong focus on integration and community support. Its services include English language classes, employment support, women’s support, youth and family services, advice and cultural and social activities.

What you’ll do

Assist the tutor during ESOL classes, including small-group support

Support learners with pronunciation, conversation practice and everyday English

Help prepare worksheets, learning materials and classroom activities

Assist with the development of learning materials

Help create a warm, welcoming and supportive classroom environment

Support tutors during learner assessments, which take place approximately once a quarter

Help enter and update relevant learner information in the project database following assessments

Assist tutors with updating Learning Plans and learner progress information

Help record topics covered, progress made and information relevant to the next six-month learning period

Help keep learner records accurate and up to date

Who this role is good for

Students, graduates or others interested in education, TESOL, linguistics, modern languages or social sciences. No formal teaching qualification is required. Patience, enthusiasm, reliability and good communication skills are important.

Time commitment and flexibility

We understand that volunteers have their own work, study, family and other commitments. We aim to keep these roles flexible. We are ideally looking for around 4–8 hours of volunteering per week, depending on the role and your availability. However, we genuinely value any contribution: even a few hours a week can make a meaningful difference to our project and our learners.

Skills and experience

Required Skills

• Good organisation and attention to detail

• Ability to follow tutor guidance and handle learner information appropriately

• Good communication and teamwork skills

• Patience, reliability and a supportive approach to learners

• Good spoken and written English

Desirable Skills

• Experience with data entry or maintaining learner records

• Experience preparing learning materials

• Experience supporting learners or working in an educational setting

• Study or experience in education, TESOL, linguistics, modern languages or social sciences

What we offer

• Written reference on completion, reflecting your role and contribution

• Hands-on, sector-relevant experience for your CV or placement portfolio

• Full induction, safeguarding briefing and role-specific support

• The opportunity to support Ukrainian guests and learners participating in our ESOL project in Nottinghamshire

• Flexible volunteering designed to work around study, work and other commitments

The Conversation Class Teacher volunteer will deliver IRMO Conversation Class lessons as suitable, required and in support of our English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) provision for adults. 

You will work closely with the ETE Education Assistant to support language development among IRMO ESOL Courses learners, following a scheme of work and basic course outline and planning the lessons at beginner and advanced levels (as allocated) according to your teaching approach, methods and techniques. 

Main tasks and responsibilities of the role: 

● Planning, preparing and delivering high-quality lessons to a range of classes and levels in a community setting. 

● Providing a safe and inclusive learning environment for learners, reinforcing and practising English focusing on particular areas of the learner's language. 

● Ensuring learners’ participation during classes and monitoring attendance. 

● Providing opportunities for social engagement to support learners to become more independent (eg. explaining necessary processes about daily life). 

● Promoting and encouraging language improvement (eg. motivating learners to participate in language learning activities such as conversation classes). 

● Keeping classes on track according to the syllabus and learning outcomes instructed. 

● Undertaking any other administrative tasks, consistent with the purpose of the role as required. 

● To deliver all aspects of this role description in adherence and compliance with IRMO's Policies and Procedures.