After a month of not working in any ESOL classes, with no Spring classes on my calendar, I had a mild case of antsy-pants. I figured it was time to gently knock on some doors and see who might want some of my volunteer time. My criteria? Must be working with adults. Must be working with a teacher who is a good communicator and has clear goals. Must be walking distance from my apartment, if the class meets in person.
I sent notes to two Chinatown agencies, the Boston Public Library, and two agencies with workforce-focused programs where I've volunteered before. And within a couple of days, I'd heard from both of the workforce agencies. Jewish Vocational Services (JVS), where I've been working for five years, offered two different classes serving international research fellows at Mass General Hospital. A new volunteer manager at the International Institute of New England invited me to meet and talk about ESOL opportunities in the more elementary classes there.
JVS offered me a place in an accent reduction class I've done before, with a teacher who's new to me and new to teaching this class. There are two cohorts, both meeting in the afternoon, and I signed on to do both. And then, just a few hours after I agreed to that, the teacher I've been working with for the past year and a half invited me to join her in a higher level class than the one we've been doing previously. I couldn't turn down the opportunity to work with her, and to learn what the higher level class is all about.
So bingo bongo, just like that, I'm doing three classes this Spring! Two afternoons and one early evening, each week. The accent reduction classes meet on Zoom, and for the higher level class, three of twelve sessions will be in person. I've told the International Institute that I'll be available in June or July, which gives us plenty of time to sort out what I might want to do in their refugee and immigrant program.