English Tutor

[muchachablanca]

I´m looking to give English lessons here in Santiago. Not sure if there´s anyone out there with some information on how to get started, etc. I´m willing to look at volunteering for now with the possibility for more later.

Stephanie Rodriguez

[Norma Rosa]

Originally Posted by muchachablanca

I´m looking to give English lessons here in Santiago. Not sure if there´s anyone out there with some information on how to get started, etc. I´m willing to look at volunteering for now with the possibility for more later.
Stephanie Rodriguez

Great!! This is something I am planning to do when I move there. I think I will be using my home.

Here is some help:
1. Decide if you are going to teach adults or children.
2. Inform the public (a local radio station can help you, a school, posters)
3. Place? (The public library, a school room (when not in use)
4. ESL materials? (the bookstore might have some. There are many internet sites on ESL or you may create your own.)

Buena suerte

[Chip]

Originally Posted by muchachablanca

I´m looking to give English lessons here in Santiago. Not sure if there´s anyone out there with some information on how to get started, etc. I´m willing to look at volunteering for now with the possibility for more later.

Stephanie Rodriguez

Check with Berlitz. Also, there are many other institutos here in Santiago, try checking out the yellow pages.

http://www.superpagesdr.com/default.aspx

[Lesley D]

Hi Stephanie,

I would like to add as well that I think this is a great initiative especially in the DR where many students require personalized teaching needs and even more key is the opportunity to learn English. Some of my friends are English teachers in Santo Domingo and it's really puzzling how some even are considered qualified to teach the language. However, you know how the saying goes...en tierra de ciegos..

Anyway I want to reiterate Norma's first point and last point (#1 and #4). It's so important to decide if you want to teach children or adults or both. Your teaching methodology and expectations will be different because of their age.

I also think it's important that you have a strategy for teaching English (as for any language) long before you get started. Most likely you will be teaching youth who don't know any English at all and the same holds true for adults with the exception of a few universal words that they may know. You most likely will be starting from scratch.

You as the tutor should have some good teaching materials i.e. references for a range of levels and photocopies to give to your students. You should have pencils and paper because don’t expect these students to come equipped with what they need. You will need an English/ Spanish dictionary for your adult students and for the younger ones creative teaching techniques would be better. Young children will not be interested in a dictionary. For the really young kids plenty of oral teaching would be helpful since they will not have reading skills.

All the other points Norma mentioned are great suggestions in order to recruit students. If you start as a volunteer surely you will be able to recruit a handful of ambitious youth who are willing to learn.

Good luck with a great initiative.

Regards,

-LDG.

[muchachablanca]

thank you all so much for your advice. i have some ideas now on how to get started. i hope i can report back with positive stories!!