Become a volunteer
home tutor

Help former refugees and migrants learn English and join New Zealand society. Deliver language support in the learners’ own homes.

Become a volunteer

Volunteer with English Language Partners and help us provide free English lessons to former refugees and migrants. We will train you to work alongside learners, so you can provide them with the language skills and confidence necessary to integrate and participate in Kiwi life and culture.

Certificate in ESOL Home Tutoring

A course for community volunteers who want to become ESOL home tutors. Once trained, tutors provide one-to-one, English-language support to adult, former refugees and migrants in New Zealand.

You can train at one of our 21 centres around New Zealand. Training dates vary by centre. We publish upcoming training dates on each centre's webpage.

Course details

English Language Partners’ Certificate in ESOL Home Tutoring is a New Zealand Qualifications Authority-assured training scheme and is designed to be completed in 60 hours of part-time study.

1.

Introductory training

  • 20 hours training sessions (minimum)

  • 14 hours independent study

2.

Practical tutor training

  • 26 hours preparation, tutoring and evaluation

Class times vary, and may be scheduled in the daytime, evening or weekends. A minimum of 80% attendance at training sessions is required.

3.

Course assessment

Course assessment activities need to be completed before a certificate is awarded. Successful course participants earn an NZQA-approved, Level 3 Certificate in ESOL Home Tutoring

4.

Course content

  • Context of volunteer tutoring

  • Intercultural awareness

  • Adults as language learners

  • Teaching techniques for ESOL

  • Identifying learner needs and setting learner goals

  • Planning tutoring sessions and using resources

  • Evaluating sessions and reporting on progress

5.

Learning outcomes

  • Support learners as they settle in New Zealand

  • Maintain an informal one-to-one English language support programme

  • Assist adult language learners to develop their speaking, listening, reading and writing skills

  • Assist adult learners to participate in their local community

  • Evaluate their own and their learner’s performance

  • Planning tutoring sessions and using resources

Your responsibilities

1.

To your learner

  • Commit up to two hours per week to tutoring, for at least six months.

  • Establish learning goals and regularly review these with your learner.

  • Plan and provide an informal, one-to-one, English language support programme. Your programme will assist your learner to develop the speaking, listening, reading and writing skills necessary to perform everyday tasks.

  • Reflect on your own and your learner’s performance.

  • Help your learner understand the cultures and customs of New Zealand.

  • Inform your learner of events, courses or other activities offered by English Language Partners and in the wider community.

2.

To English Language Partners

  • Commit to ELPNZ’s Guiding Principles, purpose, vision and values.

  • Complete the Certificate in ESOL Home Tutoring volunteer tutor training course

  • Attend a minimum of 80% of the course and complete all assessment tasks.

  • Participate in relevant, ongoing training (workshops, support meetings).

  • Keep a written record of weekly lessons and report to your centre on your learner’s progress.

  • Be involved in programme evaluations.

  • Inform the centre when you intend to stop tutoring.

FAQs

How do I become an ESOL home tutor?

Start by finding your closest centre and completing the online application form. We will be in touch to invite you to come and have a chat with us to ensure we are the best fit for your donated time. Once accepted on the course, you will attend the training and complete the first 3 assignments before we match you with a learner. We will then match you with the learner we feel is the best fit. The training will teach you what to do from here.

What if I get stuck after I start tutoring?

We are here to help! No matter what your question might be, whether it’s a grammar one, a resource or learning question, or one about how to navigate public services, we are here to support both our learners and our volunteers. Each centre also organises ongoing professional development and refresher courses throughout the year.

When are the courses run?

We run courses at different times across the country to meet volunteer availabilities. Contact your local centre for the next course close to you.

What if the person I’m tutoring has no English at all?

You’ll learn teaching techniques during the training that will help you get started. Your manager or coordinator can advise you and there is a local library of teaching resources available to you.

What is the training like?

The course is 25 hours, with a few small assignments to complete as you go. It is very practical and hands on so you feel as best prepared as possible for your first steps with your learner. You will learn how to assess a learner’s needs, how to plan a lesson, where to find resources and how to use them, as well as how to approach teaching reading, writing, listening, and speaking. A big component of the course is also the cultural aspect of what we do with the new Kiwis we work with.

Is there a fee?

There is a one-off charge of $40 to cover coursebook and materials costs.

How do you ensure health and safety?

All of our tutors are police checked at the time of enrolment, and learners will have been police checked as part of their immigration process.
ELP does a check of the home tutoring environment and tutors should discuss any concerns with their centre.

What our volunteers say

How real volunteers have found their experience

Priyesha Mendis

VOLUNTEER

Being part of the volunteering experience has been great! I have definitely gained a lot of experience and personal development through this process. Plus, I am glad that I had the opportunity to enrich someone else's life.

Ashok Bhat

LEARNER

I really enjoyed the course. It sets out clearly what you need to know and what is expected of you and I enjoyed meeting all different people from other professions and cultures.

Priyesha Mendis

Volunteer

Being part of the volunteering experience has been great! I have definitely gained a lot of experience and personal development through this process. Plus, I am glad that I had the opportunity to enrich someone else's life.

Ashok Bhat

Volunteer

I really enjoyed the course. It sets out clearly what you need to know and what is expected of you and I enjoyed meeting all different people from other professions and cultures.

Denise Lawrence

Volunteer

English Language Partners does an amazing job and long may it continue

Mohammad Ali Amiri

Volunteer

When you come to a country and you know no-one, and someone offers you help, it is the best ever thing that can happen.

Kaannha Mao

Volunteer

Volunteering is my hobby. I'm happy to see other people happy.

Venessa

Volunteer

I see her as my friend. We help each other to be better than we were.

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