What is the ESL Mentoring Service?
ESL Mentoring is a learner-driven service that provides free mentoring to intermediate-level, adult ESL (English as a Second Language) learners who want to improve their reading, writing, speaking, listening, and grammar skills. Our mentors help connect learners to the community through partnerships, collaboration, and resource navigation based on learner goals. Learners work one-on-one with a native English-speaking mentor on projects designed specifically to get them where they want to go in life, at school, in their career, and anywhere else they want to succeed.
I am a Mentor…
ESL Mentors are essential in helping English-learning members of our community reach their goals.
What is an ESL Mentor? How can I be one?
As a mentor, you’ll be trained, provided with resources, and have the support of library staff and a community of other mentors to work with an intermediate-level English learner. Working together, you’ll design and complete projects that improve their English fluency and help them make progress towards their defined goal(s).
You’ll be an advocate, helping your assigned learner navigate community resources, creating new personal connections, building confidence, and, ultimately, fulfilling their dreams.
Primary Duties
- Meet with designated learner online or in person once a week to teach English and work toward an established goal.
- Design and implement 6- to 8-week long projects oriented to a learner’s specific goals.
- Prepare a lesson plan before each mentoring session.
- Navigate relevant resources to help a learner achieve goals.
- Create “homework” for them to work on in between meetings.
- Communicate any questions or concerns to the ESL Mentoring Coordinator.
Time Commitment
Three hours per week (1.5 hours to meet with learner and estimated 1.5 hours of prep time) for a minimum of 6 months.
Qualifications
- At least 18 years old
- Ability to speak, read, and write in English fluently
- Comfortable using technology, proficient with email, basic software, web-based electronic resources and virtual meeting platforms
- Cultural sensitivity, empathy, and openness to different values and beliefs
- Patience, enthusiasm, and willingness to provide encouragement
- Creativity in designing and structuring projects that benefit learner
- Flexibility to adapt to different learning styles
- Live or work in Poudre Libraries service area
- Community involvement and/or community connections preferred
Training
- Virtual “live” training sessions
- Online self-guided training assignments provided by ESL Mentoring Coordinator
- Continuous learning opportunities after assignment
Benefits of Volunteering
- Make new friends and connections
- Gain teaching experience
- Learn about other cultures
- Contribute to your community
- Make a positive difference in people’s lives
Current ESL Mentor Resources
ESL Mentoring SharePoint Login
Information and resources for current ESL mentors.
Report your hours and browse other volunteer opportunities.
Due to the popularity of this service, we’re temporarily suspending ESL Mentor applications. Please check back soon as our needs are always changing.
Questions?
Learner Testimonials
“I’m so lucky to be one of the first students in this mentoring program at the Poudre Public Library. With the help of this program, I learned to talk about my goals for graduate school, passed my TOEFL exam, and created my own Chinese Recipe Food blog. This was fun because it helped with my homesickness, taught me lots of new vocabulary, and helped me realize that I enjoy being a storyteller – sharing memories of my family and foods. I’m amazed that the flavors of my home can be shared with people online and even written in a new language!”
–MIYA, ESL Learner from China
“I came to Fort Collins for a better future for me and my family. When I got here my English was very poor and a friend of mine told me about the conversational English group at the Poudre River Public Library. Later I started the Mentoring program and I can now have a conversation in English thanks to this program. My goal is to be a police officer in Fort Collins and I know I can reach that goal with this program.”
–EFRAIN, ESL Learner from Puerto Rico
“This mentoring program is greatly improving my English by working on projects oriented to my specific goals such as creating my elevator pitch, learning new vocabulary, designing a class about making a bullet journal, and more. I am very happy to be participating in this service and really enjoy studying with my mentor.”
–FEYZA, ESL Learner from Turkey
Additional Resources
Take lessons in more than 70 different languages, including English, Spanish, Chinese, and Arabic.
Join a friendly, informal setting for English language learners to practice their English and connect with others.
