ESOL Home Learning Volunteer Training Course

Course overview

The Home Learning Scheme aims to provide access to English-language learning for adults (including refugees) who are unable to attend a local community-based ESOL class or require additional support to continue their studies.

This is achieved through volunteer tutors working once a week on a one-to-one basis in a student's home or another suitable venue. Students are often unable to attend class due to family or work commitments, health issues, or travel difficulties.

Countries of origin include Syria, Ukraine, Sudan, Bangladesh and China. Tutors are people with a variety of backgrounds, interests, and ages. Speaking the student's language is an asset but not essential. Tutors play an important role in providing equal opportunities for people to access learning and are expected to have a strong commitment to anti-discrimination.

Contact us

If you would like to find out more about becoming a volunteer before applying, contact Tomasz Spalek at tomasz.spalek@edinburghcollege.ac.uk.

The course is free, and when you fill in the application, you will reach a section about fees where this is confirmed. However, there is a box that you must tick, labelled 'employer contract'. This is a technical fix that allows us to offer you a free course and is unrelated to your employer or employment status.

What you will learn

• Introductory Training: All volunteers must ideally attend all course sessions before meeting a student.
• The training aims to develop language awareness, advise on lesson planning, demonstrate basic teaching techniques and inform volunteers about the philosophy, administration and support networks of the scheme.
• An enjoyable variety of methods is used in the course, including group discussions, videos, and demonstrations by course tutors.
• Assessments are informal through group practice activities.
• Training and Support while working: after completing the initial training course, you will have an individual support worker who is an experienced teacher. You will also receive a newsletter and regular communications, and be invited to meetings and follow-up training sessions.
• Books and teaching materials are available.

Placement information

•  4 to 5 hours per week for nine months, including travel, preparation and tutoring.
• You will meet the student at a mutually convenient time and place, usually on a weekday in the daytime, in the student's home, though tuition may take place in the evening.
• Tuition is offered to a student for nine months at first. However, a tutor can work longer than this, perhaps with another student. Many tutors work for several years.
• Tuition is geared to the individual student and their situation. It could involve spoken and/or written English at various levels in situations where a person wants to improve their communication, e.g., with health and educational services.

How the course is assessed

• Successful completion of the training course, informally assessed through coursework and teaching exercises, will lead to a volunteer placement with us. 

Number of days per week

• 1 Thursday a week for 5 weeks, including the Information and Selection sessions.
• 9.15 AM to 2.15 PM (including a 1-hour lunch break).

Entry requirements

• No formal qualifications or experience are necessary. However, you should possess good communication skills, patience, flexibility, and an interest in people and the process of language learning.
• We welcome applications from speakers of community languages.
• If you already have the CELTA qualification or an equivalent, or extensive relevant experience, and would be interested in volunteering in one of our classes instead of (or in addition to) teaching one-to-one, please contact us to enquire.  tomasz.spalek@edinburghcollege.ac.uk

Information on Tests / Auditions / Interview Requirements

• Attendance at the Information session plus successful completion of the Selection session will result in a place on the training course.

English Proficiency Requirements

Progression and Articulation Routes

• Introduction to TESOL and Grammar Awareness  - evening class
• CELTA

Career options

• ESOL teacher
• The scheme can only offer voluntary teaching opportunities. However, if you are interested in finding ESOL work or studying for professional teacher training, you may benefit from the experience of tutoring and from references given if you spend at least 9 months working with the scheme.