Visit the webpage for your local language centre to find out when it opens in January. In the meantime, all the information about our courses and volunteer opportunities are on our website.
Our national office in Wellington is closed from 1pm on Tuesday 24 December and will reopen at 9am on 3 January 2024.
Before you are matched with a learner you will complete the NZQA-approved Certificate in ESOL Home Tutoring (unless you already have relevant teaching experience).
This is our foundational programme and where English Language Partners started in the 1970s. You can be confident that this course will help you understand the concepts of learning and teaching, give you guidance on your role, and develop your confidence and skill in tutoring.
To prepare you as an ESOL home tutor the course is very practical and hands-on. 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 tutoring in reading, writing, listening, and speaking.
The course will take 60 hours of part-time study in a mix of face-to-face learning and self-directed study. This includes the training course, teaching practice, and assessments.
The timing and format of face-to-face learning can vary depending on your local centre. Check the upcoming training dates in your area and contact your local centre if you have questions.
By the end of the course, you will:
Demonstrate an understanding of the context of volunteer home tutoring.
Have a better understanding of the background and needs of learners.
Develop cross-cultural awareness.
Demonstrate knowledge of current teaching approaches to language learning for adults.
Know how to prepare and deliver appropriate learning sessions.
Be able to evaluate learning sessions and report on learner progress.
Requirements for passing the course are:
Attend at least 80% of the training course.
Complete all assignments (meeting the performance criteria).
Complete a 12-session tutoring ‘match’ with an adult English language learner.
If you already have a relevant teaching qualification and/or experience, you may be able to fast-track your training and complete only 20% of the training instead of the full course. We are short of volunteers and encourage anyone who is eligible for the fast track to contact your local centre.
To qualify for the fast-track you will hold a recognised English Language teaching qualification and have experience teaching adults.
If you have one of the following qualifications, we can fast track your application to become a tutor:
CELTA (Certificate in English Language Teaching to Adults, Cambridge ESOL, UK, formerly called RSA/CTEFLA)
CertTESOL (Trinity Certificate in TESOL, London)
Grad Cert TEAL (Graduate Certificate in Teaching English as an Additional Language – Massey University)
Grad Cert in TESOL(Graduate Certificate in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages, Wintec, Waikato)
GCertTESOL (Grad Certificate in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages at ELI, Victoria University Wellington)
AIS CertTESOL (Certificate in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages at AIS, Auckland Institute of Studies)
If your qualification is not on this list talk to your local centre. We maybe able to fast track your application if your qualification is externally validated and moderated by a reputable examination body, includes a minimum of 6 hours supervised, assessed, and moderated teaching practice and at least 100 hours of TESOL input.
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.
20 hours training sessions (minimum)
14 hours independent study
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.
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
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
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
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.
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.
How real volunteers have found their experience
