Community Based ESOL and Modern Languages
ESOL Home Learning Volunteer Training
Campus Granton Campus
Qualification SCQF Level 4
Study mode Part time
Start date
Aug 2024
Course enquiry form
Course overview
The aim of the Home Learning Scheme is to provide access to learning English for adults (including refugees) permanently resident in the area who are unable to attend a local community-based class or who need additional support to continue with a class.
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 normally unable to get to a class for reasons such as family or work commitments health mobility 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 have an important place in providing equal opportunities for people to get access to learning and are expected to have a positive interest in anti-discrimination.
What you will learn
- Introductory Training: All volunteers must attend a free introductory course 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 are used on the course including group work discussions, videos and demonstrations from course tutors.
- Assessments are informal through group practice activities.
- Training and Support while Working: You will have an individual support worker who is an experienced teacher. You will also receive a newsletter, regular phone calls, and attend meetings and training sessions.
- Books and teaching material are available and we pay travel expenses.
Placement information
- 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, it is quite possible for a tutor to 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 a variety of levels in the situations in which a person wants to improve their communication eg with health and educational services.
How the course is assessed
- Successful completion of the training course and 9 months of delivering voluntary tuition
Number of days per week
- 1 Thursday a week for 4 weeks, including the Information and Selection sessions
- 9.15am - 2.15pm (including a 1 hour lunch break)
Entry requirements
- No formal qualifications or experience are necessary. However, you should have good communication skills with patience, flexibility and an interest in people and the process of language learning.
English Proficiency Requirements
IELTS 5.5Progression and Articulation Routes
- You could progress to the CELTA course at Sighthill.
Career options
- 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.
Study Options
| Campus | Study mode | Start date |
|---|---|---|
| Granton Campus | Part time | 22/08/24 |
