English Second Language Teacher

Help adults build confidence and practical English skills!

Angels for Action , a small community-based nonprofit in Plainfield, NJ, is looking for a volunteer ESL teacher to help adults learn basic English for everyday life, work, and family responsibilities. We have 3 sessions a year: (1) Mid January - April, (2) May - July, and (3) September - Mid December. Wednesday evenings and saturday mornings. Our classes can be the majority Hispanic, though we serve a very diverse community. No need to be able to speak Spanish. We can also assign assistant to your class if needed. Many students are working adults, parents, or individuals navigating stressful life circumstances, so patience, flexibility, and practical lessons are essential.

This is a volunteer position. If you are a student eligible for work study, we can discuss if we are an eligible partner host.

Right now we have an immediate need for our Fall Session:

• Saturday mornings from 11:00 am - 1:pm or can be 1.5 hours - flexible to whatever you are teaching.

Other times:

• But If you are available for any other Saturdays sessions in the future, please reach out.

---

Responsibilities

• Teach basic English, including speaking, listening, reading, and writing.
• Develop or adapt lessons for everyday situations, such as workplace communication, appointments, school interactions, and daily errands.
• Track attendance and student progress ( we have a tracking system, but we can assign other helpers to assist with this)
• Prepare simple lesson plans and assignments appropriate for adult learners.
• Leave written lesson plans when absent so another volunteer can step in if needed.

Qualifications:

• Candidates should possess general Teaching skills, including the ability to adapt instruction to different learning styles and levels.
• Experience working with adult learners or multilingual communities is an advantage.
• As we have come across across many people that have a passion for teaching not not necessarily come from a teaching background. So having a degree, certifications, and/or experience would be greatly appreciated but not required.

Expectations

• Someone who can take initiative, work independently, and adapt lessons to students' different learning levels and circumstances.
• Traditional homework and classroom expectations may need to be adjusted to accommodate students balancing work, family, and other responsibilities.

What We're Looking For

• Experience teaching English or ESL, or a strong passion for helping adults learn.
• Patience, empathy, and cultural sensitivity.
• Strong communication and organizational skills.
• Resourcefulness and the ability to develop or follow a general curriculum.
• Comfort working with adults with varied educational backgrounds and English proficiency.

Previous teaching materials are available, and additional supplies can be discussed as needed.

We can provide existing textbooks, worksheets, and other teaching materials. Past teachers have often used their own curriculum and teaching approach, but we're happy to work with you and adapt to your preferred teaching style.

Schedule

Our ESL program typically runs three sessions per year, meeting once a week for approximately three months. We currently have opportunities on Saturday mornings , with flexibility to discuss other times. We can also work with volunteers who cannot commit to the entire session.

Federal Work-Study Students

If you're enrolled in a Federal Work-Study program, please let us know! We may be able to connect with your college to explore becoming an approved community partner or host site.

Your time and skills can help adults gain confidence, communicate more independently, and navigate everyday life. We'd love to hear from you!