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Tutor English and help a refugee background or migrant learner gain the skills and confidence they need to settle successfully in Aotearoa New Zealand.
When you volunteer to tutor someone with a migrant or refugee background in English, you give them the world. Your support will help them gain the skills and confidence they need to settle successfully in Aotearoa New Zealand.
With over 1,000 volunteers tutoring our learners in English in their own homes across the country, you’re in good company. You might be surprised to hear that our volunteers often tell us that they get just as much out of tutoring as their learners do!
“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.”
Priyesha Mendis (Volunteer)
Anyone can step up to become a volunteer tutor. You don’t need to have teaching experience but you should bring a good understanding of everyday English and a genuine interest in supporting someone from another culture.
You will receive comprehensive NZQA-approved training (free), ongoing support from our passionate teams, and access to a supportive online community of volunteers who are impacting the lives of our learners.
If you already have a relevant teaching qualification and/or experience, you may qualify for our fast-track your training.
When you volunteer with us as an English language tutor you will help people develop life-changing confidence to integrate well into their communities.
You will find volunteering with English Language Partners hugely rewarding because it is about so much more than being an English tutor. By helping people with refugee and migrant backgrounds learn about life in Aotearoa New Zealand, you will help them navigate their new world.
Our community of over 1,000 dedicated volunteers across the country are changing lives by connecting with learners to help them learn the language and skills to engage in their communities.
We have 21 centres around Aotearoa New Zealand – most centres run training multiple times through the year. Some areas have learners waiting for a new tutor right now so are urgently looking for amazing people like you to start volunteering. Reach out to your nearest centre today to find out when the next training will start.
As a volunteer tutor, you will learn about different cultures, broaden your horizons, and make meaningful connections with people you might not otherwise have met. As much as you teach your learner, you will learn and be inspired too.
“I love interacting with people from other cultures. Our journeys through life are so different! I’ve learnt a lot from the irresilience, courage, humour and patience.”
Eleanor, Volunteer.
Yes! Anyone can volunteer to become an English language tutor. You don’t need to be a teacher or speak another language. We will provide all the training and resources you need to successfully support our learners.
If you have a good understanding of everyday English, are genuinely interested in supporting someone from a refugee or migrant background, and are open-minded about other cultures, we’d love to hear from you.
You may be able to fast-track your training if you have relevant teaching experience.
When you have successfully completed your training, you’ll need just 1-2 hours per week for planning and lessons with your learner in their home. We do ask that you commit to your learner’s lessons for six months.
We set our volunteer tutors up for success with comprehensive training which is the most time-intensive part of your journey.
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 team at your local English Language Partners centre will support your through your training and as you volunteer in a learner’s home. If you have questions, you are welcome to phone or visit your local centre.
Once you’ve made the amazing decision to volunteer, your journey to meeting and tutoring your first learner begins with an online application form. The team will then contact you for an interview – this is a great time for you to ask questions, and for us to learn more about you.
Once you’ve been approved for the training, you will complete the NZQA-approved Certificate in ESOL Home Tutoring.
Our teams across the country are passionate about supporting not just our learners, but our amazing volunteer tutors as well. Your local team will be there to guide you through every stage of your volunteering journey and check in regularly.
Your safety and well-being are important, and your training will teach you about maintaining healthy boundaries with your learner and/or when to ask for help.
We also love to see our volunteers come together and share their experiences. We have a safe, invitation-only, space online where you can connect with volunteer tutors like yourself from across the country. You can access the group via a secure app and/or web browser to share stories and resources and support each other.
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.
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.
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.
We run courses at different times across the country to meet volunteer availabilities. Contact your local centre for the next course close to you.
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.
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.
There is a one-off charge of $40 to cover coursebook and materials costs.
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.
How real volunteers have found their experience
