#ESL Training NYC | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

laceyflanaganmaine · 2 years ago

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Opportunities for Teens Near me

There are numerous volunteer opportunities in Washington, DC. You can assist with community planting efforts by working onsite at local charities or by writing letters to local lawmakers and raising donations. Volunteering at an organization is a terrific way to meet new people and enhance your career.

Consider volunteering at a food bank if you have a heart for your neighborhood. Food banks may use assistance with food preparation and packaging for distribution. Additionally, volunteers can assist with administrative work and events. There are numerous food banks in the region and multiple ways to become involved. For example, Food Lifeline is a terrific spot to volunteer around the holidays. If you enjoy working with children, you can teach ESL, instruct parents in sewing, or engage them in therapeutic games.

The American Cancer Society is a fantastic organization to volunteer for. Since more than a century ago, our organization has assisted millions of cancer patients. Numerous activities and programs, including Relay for Life, Hope Lodge, and Making Strides Against Breast Cancer, are open to volunteers. Volunteers may also enroll in a training class to learn more about the organization and how they may contribute.

New York Cares is one of the most well-known volunteer organizations in New York City. It is the largest volunteer organization in the city, and the New York Cares Coat Drive has gathered almost 1.7 million jackets since 1989. Before signing up for a project, prospective volunteers must complete an online orientation. Community gardens, food banks, and animal shelters are among the several possibilities accessible. All of these volunteer organizations have the potential to impact the community positively.

Animal lovers could like volunteer at animal shelters. However, these organizations have age requirements for volunteers. Depending on your availability and desire, you may play with dogs or bottle-feed kittens. Additionally, you can help clean the shelter. This is a fantastic chance for young animal-loving individuals.

Volunteering at a hospital or clinic can be a terrific way to gain practical experience and enhance your CV if you're interested in a medical career. Although the volunteer work will consist of modest chores, it will provide significant insight into the industry. And remember to include it in your resume!

Volunteering for a charitable organization can also be gratifying. You can meet new people and perform a meaningful job. Using Apple's Maps application, you can locate relevant volunteer activities in your city. For example, there are numerous volunteer opportunities in Washington, DC. Whether you like to volunteer at a local food bank or a non-profit organization, you can find a suitable option.

There are senior living communities in numerous cities and towns. Seniors often require assistance with daily duties. Volunteering at a senior center can aid in developing social and computer skills. Additionally, various non-profit groups pair volunteers with senior residents. For example, elder Helpers unites volunteers with senior citizens needing assistance. AARP's Create the Good program can also be used to locate volunteer opportunities. Check out the Volunteer Nation website if you seek volunteer opportunities at a community center.

Neighborhood-level volunteerism is a fantastic method to give back to the Brooklyn community. You can search for volunteer opportunities by zip code or interest area. Additionally, NYC Service maintains a comprehensive list of volunteer opportunities around the city. These efforts improve local communities, public health, and environmental protection.

Many communities across the nation require assistance. There are volunteer options, whether you wish to assist clean up a park or collect donations for needy families. For instance, a high school student can form a group to clean up a playground. Children will be safer in the garden as a result. There are also numerous volunteer possibilities with children. Volunteering is also an excellent opportunity to learn how to give back to the community.

There are numerous other involvement opportunities for adolescents. For example, the Food Assistance Center in Arlington needs volunteers to assist with food drives. Even five-year-olds can participate in Family Bagging Nights. Students in middle school can organize food drives and Dimes for Dining campaigns. Additionally, they can arrange fundraisers via personal fundraising websites.

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trascapades · 3 years ago

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🚫#ArtIsAWeapon

#ImmigrationRightsAreHumanRights "NO I.C.E." is a #publicart project by STOP 1 @stop1projects that utilizes the bodega ice vending machine as a platform for #immigrationrights awareness. Working with the Museum of Contemporary African Diasporan Arts (MoCADA) @mocada_museum, they hope to bring this art exhibition to the streets of #NYC from November 2021 to March 2022. You can support this initiative by donating to their @kickstarter campaign - www.kickstarter.com/projects/stop1/the-no-ice-box-by-stop-1 - 🔗in their BIO.

Reposted from @stop1projects Our campaign seeks to raise funds to build an interactive NO I.C.E. public sculpture, transforming the bodega ice machine into a platform for immigration rights awareness. The work will be placed outside MoCADA in Brooklyn’s Fort Greene neighborhood.⁣

We would greatly appreciate your support by donating via our campaign rewards on kickstarter, and or any sharing you are willing to do via email, text, and or social media.

⁣

Additional funds will go towards the New York chapter of @maketheroadny , a national non-profit organization devoted to providing vital immigration services such as legal representation in exploitation cases, immigrant rights training, literacy programs and ESL training, as well as help for undocumented in gaining US citizenship.⁣

⁣

Thank you to all who’ve support our journey thus far. There is still more work to be done.⁣

⁣

🔗in bio⁣

@kickstarter⁣

@mocada

@stop1projects

@maketheroadny

#NoIce #Stop1Projects #MoCADA #Sculpture #NoOneIsIllegalOnStolenLand #BlackImmigrants #HaitianImmigrants #Support #Kickstarter

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#Instagram

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studyeslny-blog · 6 years ago

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Want to know more about English classes or want to enroll in English language school in NYC? Contact Study ESL. They are one of the leading providers of ESL training classes in New York. Call them at: 646–307–8684 or Fax them at: (917) 398–9853.

#english language #English Language Classes

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joellemiller10-blog · 6 years ago

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“Mom, I made it!” - NYC Update

The look on people’s faces after I shared my “moving to New York City without a job” plan never got old. Many would smile nervously back at me. The evident looks of “yikes, that sounds slightly foolish” were still visible through the laughter and encouragement I received. There were moments when I had to fight fear thinking about the future, but I genuinely believed God would “go before” me in the step of faith I was taking. After doors closed to stay in Minneapolis after graduation, I decided to take the jump. I sincerely believed God had something good for me in New York City.

Susan sent me this quote on November 1st, 2017:

“When God moves us out of our comfort zones - into places that are way bigger than us, places that are difficult, hard, painful, places that even hurt - this is a gift. We are being given a gift. These hard places give us the gift of intimately knowing God in ways that would never be possible in our comfort zones.”

Why New York City?

That could be an entry of its own. The short answer is: for proximity.

Proximity to the communities that God loves, but that are often forgotten. Proximity to people from many different cultures, religions, languages, races, and ethnicities. The world’s diversity exists in this city. I would be living the most mundane parts of my life rubbing shoulders (literally) and sharing train poles with strangers I wouldn’t normally come in contact with. This, to me, would be beautiful. So, whether it was pursuing the legal field, ministry, or nonprofit work, I wanted to be in New York City and live in that proximity.

Funny enough, in December of 2015, several years prior during my sophomore year of college, Tammy (a lifelong mentor of mine) told me, “You know Joelle, I think you’ll end up in New York City one day.”

I chuckled. “Really? Why do you say that?”

“I don’t know, you love people, you love God. It only makes sense that you’d end up there.”

*High five* Tammy Dunford.

Truthfully, throughout the process of preparing to come, I fought to trust the Lord. Was God going to provide a job? What if the step of faith I was taking would result in failure? What if I went broke and had to fly home? Even though I knew God was good, and he wanted good for me, moments of fear over how he would show his goodness were very real. I prayed for three specific things: wisdom, provision, and that I wouldn’t be afraid.

“There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear.” 1 John 4:18

“I’m emotionally weary. But I’m still choosing to trust the Lord with these next few months. With the loneliness, discouragement, and heartache. He will be with me. And if the point of all of this is for it to fail, so I can experience God in a better way, then okay. Whatever it takes. Lord, give me a heart of willingness for failure and disappointment.” (Journaled on 12/15/17)

“I will be with you on the train. I will be with you on the street. I will be with you in Flatbush, in Cafe Madeline, in the subway station, in church. I will be with you in your tears. In your heartache. In your discouragement. I will be with you.” (Journaled on 12/31/17)

So, after hugging my family goodbye in the Minneapolis airport on January 8th, I got on the plane.

And, nearly eight months later, I sit in awe as I process all that God did.

The quick update is - God blew my mind.

Day by day, week by week, month by month, he kept me alive. The first two months were full of job interviews, random dog sitting, trying to make friends, and exploring new churches. During month three, I spent my days working at a Jewish college. Drinking tea every morning with the school’s dean and sharing candy with the Armenian janitor. I had lots of alone time with the Lord as I sat on the floor of a filing room and sorted student records. By the end of month four, I had landed a full-time job as the Associate Director of CSM. My bank account had never hit zero (miraculously). I moved into a new apartment with friends (the third place I had lived since arriving). My legs were finally adjusted to all the walking, and I started teaching ESL as a volunteer to North African Muslims in Brooklyn.

Dang. God did it.

Kelsey Linnartz sent me a verse in the mail that month:

“The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth. He fulfills the desires of those who fear him; he also hears their cry and saves them.” Psalm 145:18-19

It’s true that even though God miraculously gave wisdom, offered provision, and took away my fear, I still experienced much loss in this process. Not only in leaving Minnesota to come here, but also since I’ve arrived. In my transition, it was the loss of my home (trading in Minnesota snow for Florida palm trees, ayyeee). Also, loss of proximity with dear friends. Since living here I’ve equally experienced loss of relationships, and loss of the Cru world that I’ve grown to love my whole life.

But oh, how good and faithful God has been these last eight months.

Needless to say, New York City is an adventure every day. In the spring, I found myself shaking hands with Tim Keller as I was having an interview in his office (I definitely didn’t get the job, I was “fan-girling” too much to focus). Just this last weekend, I took a photo for a random tourist, and he turned out to be a famous Brazilian youtuber. We hung out, he took of a video of me listening to Brazilian music, and the video has nearly gone viral (I’ll send you the link if you ask for it, it’s pretty funny actually). I guess I’m famous in Brazil now...? I’ve also had conversations with the president of Black Lives Matter for the Greater New York Area, and I’m getting to know the local Turkish barista in my neighborhood.

Not only has the Lord been so gracious in providing fun experiences here, but he has provided a job in which I can use my giftings and passions.

What is CSM?

CSM (City Service Missions) is an urban missions organization that seeks to bridge the gap between suburban experiences and the injustices that affect the inner-city. We lead mission trips in New York City for high schoolers who come from out of state with their church youth groups. We connect them with ministries in the city where they can serve, and we teach them about how to see justice through the lens of the gospel. http://www.csm.com/

As the Associate Director, I create and maintain partnerships with other churches, nonprofits, and ministries throughout the city. I mentor our college interns, create the mission trip schedules, and speak to the high schoolers during our weekly “worship nights”. My passion for helping my white brothers and sisters in Christ understand the Biblical basis for racial justice is beautifully fleshed out in this role. Through speaking, writing, training, mentoring, and advocating, my skills are thriving. God knew what he was doing in providing CSM for me.

I also want to give a quick shout-out to my boss and CSM City Director, CJ Quartlbaum. Not only has he been an awesome director to work for, but he’s starting to “make it big” with his speaking and writing. Check out his website: https://www.cjquartlbaum.com/ for his published articles and sermons. (Yo Cru people, if you need someone for a Fall Retreat or Cru Winter Conference speaker, he would be fantastic, just sayin’).

CJ and I have been given a fundraising goal to meet for CSM before the end of the year. We still have $5,000 remaining. I figured this post would be a great way to invite you to partner with us financially (see below). The journey towards racial reconciliation and understanding Biblical unity is pertinent to our lives as followers of Christ. We believe that CSM is making an impact in the lives of students, and they are beginning to see the Biblical call for diversity and justice. They are understanding that the journey of following Jesus includes caring for the orphan, widow, imprisoned, poor, and marginalized. 1 John 4 has become even more real for me in this process...

“Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because is love ... Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another ... And this commandment we have from him: whoever loves God must also love his brother”.

So, long story short, New York City is one of the biggest “memorial stones” I’ve ever experienced in my walk with God (Joshua 4). I’ve seen his provision, his faithfulness, his kindness. Even if I would’ve gone broke and had to fly home, he still would’ve given provision, shown to be faithful, and expressed his kindness.

Yet now, some days I am so overwhelmed with gratitude for what the Lord has done that I don’t know how to pray. I’m at a loss for words.

The only things my heart can muster most days is Psalm 13:6 - “I will sing to the Lord, for he has been good to me.”

- Joelle

To give to CSM and help us meet our fundraising goal for the year, go to: http://www.csm.org/donate/

(Be sure to write “New York City - CJ Quartlbaum and Joelle Miller” in the “Additional Information” section. Also, message me and let me know if you give!)

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shesinspain-blog · 7 years ago

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F A Q / Make Moves, Bby

Inspired by this fantastic post from Christina Bates, I answered my most frequently asked questions about teaching English in Barcelona. These are all from my experience and don’t carry weight to be generalizations.

I’d like to call this post “no one will do it for you, but you can do it yourself.” Moving here is totally possible, and it may feel super overwhelming but step-by-step you will make it happen. And what better city than Barcelona?!

What did you do before teaching English in Barcelona?

I was 22 in Columbus, Ohio, finishing my Bachelor’s in Visual Communication Design. After I earned my degree in May, I worked at the taco hut for the summer, and moved here in August.

Why did you make the jump?

It was a long time coming for me. I was very fortunate to study abroad in Rome in 2015, and through 5 short weeks I fell in love with Mediterranean culture, the eternal city, and so much more. I’m obsessed with design, so I was torn for my post-grad plans. As much as I wanted to start my career, especially in a big city like Chicago or NYC, I couldn’t shake my desire to move internationally again. I did a lot of stupid simple google searches like “How to move abroad american” and “teaching english overseas.” I got this great book about how to teach overseas. Once I was certain it was a real possibility for me, I made moves to learn what to do, how to do it, and when. Choosing this path as my means to live abroad meant selecting my own housing, determining my own timeline here, and the option to say no to work I didn’t like, which gave me more mental security than some other (totally valid!) ways of being an expat. Like aupairing, for instance.

Why did you choose Barcelona?

For a person who’s constantly following her feelings, my decision for Barcelona was largely pragmatic. I know no languages besides English. I wanted to live somewhere where I could learn fast, or at least read street signs and subway maps. Barcelona’s climate range is not extreme, so I could pack less. It’s centrally located in Europe; traveling from here is easy and cheap. Then there’s the TEFL opportunities. International TEFL Academy recommended it as one of the top locations for teaching abroad. There’s a high market of under-the-table employment, so I didn’t have to spend money on a work or student visa. There is a huge international community. Barcelona has a large population, so schools and private students are everywhere. Reading guidebooks and blogs before I came here really gave me no cultural expectations for this city. I’ve gone from knowing nothing about this city to declaring it the best city on earth. Tapas, sunshine and beach hangs really do that to you ;)

Why did you choose to get TEFL certified?

Like I said, there are lots of avenues to live overseas. I personally know people who have used the sites AuPairWorld and Workaway and Bunac. I’m considering these for future endeavors. However, TEFL certification allowed me control over my work schedule in a way other jobs did not. Knowing English already made me feel confident about the career change, and I really like my independence. Being able to separate work and fun has been important to me.

Are you on a visa?

I am on a tourist visa, which is the visa Americans have to enter the Schengen zone for 90 days. Catherine Bates has more information about getting a Spanish visa, and you can find a lot of info about visa requirements (for work or students) around the internet.

Do you need to speak Spanish?

No, especially not in Barcelona. It’s so international here. Oftentimes when speaking with strangers, I will start in Spanish and they respond to me in English anyway. Employees at train stations, grocery stores and movie theaters have all been kind and tolerant when I resort to English. However, why not learn it?! Spanish is awesome. I’ve been learning poco a poco here, and being able to communicate in multiple languages is more than a resume-skill; it’s exciting and beautiful and so alive. When I moved here the Catalan and Spanish languages were really exhausting for me, so learning something before you go (“I would like, please, thank you, and sorry”) can help you adapt better and sooner.

How do you communicate if your students do not speak English?

It’s almost exactly like language classes in high school / university! Immersion works. With my younger students, we do less sentences and more just vocab words, letter sounds and simple sentence structures. My tutoring students are A2 and C1 level, so it’s fine to do immersion conversations. The A2 students I use more structure for, so that they have the tools to communicate, and they’re not just thrown in the deep end.

How did you find housing?

Housing is crazy. But it’s crazy everywhere, right?! The way it works in Barcelona is basically same day / same week turnaround. People post an empty room and have it filled within 7 days. In this sense, it’s nice, because you wait until you land to start looking. You see the apartment and meet the roommates in person. I booked an Airbnb for my first month (Aug 29 - Oct 1) and looked with apps that are popular here, like Idealista, Badi and Facebook. Like I said, it was highly competitive for renters in September - this is one of the most popular times for students and workers to start a contract. Here is where not knowing Spanish was a major pitfall for me, as fluent speakers commonly wanted to speak Spanish at home.

With this kind of turnaround, most apartments did not even get posted until the last week or two of September. Oftentimes when it felt like I was running out of options, 15 more places would get posted on September 24 or something (available for October). But you can do it! I have yet to hear of someone returning home because they literally had no options.

How did you find a job? What is the ESL market like? Any tips?

I’m kind of outside the bubble here! I work for VIP KID, which means I work 20 hours a week from home, online. I teach students ages 5-12 in China for half hour classes. So I am not really employed at a school here! I do private tutoring which offers me spending money - it’s really nice to have Euro in hand for weekends, markets, and splitting the bill at a restaurant. I found these opportunities on TusClasesParticulares, which also posts school jobs. I originally got VIP KID as a “side hustle,” and a way to make money until I found a teaching job here. But I never really pursued working at academies - choosing my own schedule and not commuting, etc, were perks of VIP KID. Once I had one job I turned more to the apartment hunt and other things I had to figure out here. A few of my friends are employed by after school programs here, and the TEFL certification has helped all of us have confidence and land jobs.

Can you make enough money teaching in BCN to live comfortably and pay off student loans, travel, etc.?

This is what ITA calls a “break-even” location, not a “potential to save” location. I completely agree. While my income has been enough to support my lifestyle, pay my rent and pay one student loan monthly, I am still very much below the poverty line. You won’t be making a big-bucks salary here in any field - it’s just the way this city is. I’ve been able to do a couple 3 day vacations. I’m getting my 8 cavities filled (kill me!). Overall, I haven’t been scared of supporting myself, but my savings aren’t something to write home about. For financial purposes, you can make between $16 and $22/hr with VIP KID (before taxes). In 2018, I would say a fair price for a room in Barcelona is between 375E and 500E. I used the city to city comparison website to see how my spending habits in Columbus would pan out in Barcelona. Some people ONLY support themselves with VIP KID - some people ONLY support themselves with private tutoring. You will find your own balance of work to be able to afford what you want to do here.

How can I prepare before the big move?

Learn Spanish! See your friends! Join Facebook Expat communities (one of the best aspects of being an ITA student / alumni). Try to find resources that will help you lesson plan later on, so that you can hit the ground running. Join libraries and set up the ebooks, so that you have access to English books for free. Do all the beaurocratic things, like telling your bank about the move, getting whatsapp, and figure out what to do with your cell phone. Also, get a credit card! So many people advised me against this, but I have no international fees and pay it off with my American bank. It’s perfect. And DON’T FORGET A WINTER COAT. I used mine a lot, surprisingly!

How much should I save?

You’ll probably have three months between landing and receiving your first paycheck. Budget for 3 months of no income - eating takeout, buying groceries, getting a metro card. Extending your Airbnb you stupidly booked until only the 28th of September and not actually October 1. Your phone may break. You may get locked out. Emergencies happen, and having wiggle room helps you make smart decisions instead of desperate ones. I came here with $2500 and a blank credit card. I think more in the $4-5K range would help you breathe during all the searches. You can do it with less. But more money is like buying time.

How do you become a TEFL teacher and is it as amazing as it sounds?

For me, I pursued the International TEFL Academy online program. It was a great way for me to get certified while being at University, and saved me the cost of housing / etc that I would spend taking an in-person class. The online course was ten weeks, including quizzes and projects (mostly, writing lesson plans). After this, I contacted Ohio State’s American Language Program to pursue my in-person practicum. This meant working with our University’s instructors across Beginner, Intermediate and Advanced English courses for adults. The entire staff was incredibly helpful with this experience, and I met a buddy doing the same thing! We met during our internships and wrote lesson plans together, sometimes teaching joint lessons. Obviously, programs and TEFL Certifications vary with requirements, length and learning, but make sure yours is accredited so that it holds up internationally. My first lesson I was terrified! But I was lucky with my practicum too, because the teachers helped me ease in from leading a 15 minute activity to doing a full hour lesson plan solo. I don’t lesson plan with VIP KID (it’s done for you), but I do for my private lessons, and I just try to get them talking confidently as much as possible. Yesterday, we played HedBanz and we all had a blast.

What does a typical schedule look like and do you have time to do other things?

I wake up around 9am and do my thang until I teach 12-4. I have to write feedback for VIP KID, which generally takes a half hour. Lesson planning for my private students is probably 2h/wk of my time. This means most days I’m free around 4-5pm! I feel like I have so much time. Some days I can meet friends, sketch in the city and try a new recipe for dinner. Especially without commuting (besides 30m each way to my tutoring students), I have been able to own my time a lot here.

Do you need a degree?

ITA says Spain does not “require” this but it definitely helps. It is required for VIP KID. Other countries with less supply of American teachers, or different values for them, may be more lenient with this. For example, Japan may reimburse you with your flight, provide housing AND pay $2K/mo. Every market is different.

What happens when your tourist visa expires?

For the most part, nothing. Leaving the Schengen zone is the time where people may fine you or ban you from Europe. If you’re staying in Spain, your day-to-day lifestyle will likely not bring you within range of immigration control. Despite the “border-free” Schengen policy, some places like Paris will still make you go through customs in the airport and re-check your passport. For this reason, it is best to be smart about when and where you cross country borders. A few different sources have more information on this.

What have been some of the challenges you’ve faced?

I just wrote about this recently! Frustration with myself for not learning Spanish sooner. Homesick days (which are infrequent but can hit ya hard). Apartment hunting in September, but not so much in April. It is easy to live in the expat bubble here, so I would say it is challenging to meet and befriend local Spaniards. (Again, would help if I knew Spanish.) VIP KID has been amazing, but the first few months were unsteady with pay, which I didn’t account for in my moving budget. Winter is hard - even though it’s only 50 degrees here, it was still emotionally difficult. Finally, I really miss my design community and working in the field I’m so passionate about.

Final thoughts…would you change anything?

I don’t regret anything in my life, because even mistakes have lessons. Coming here with more money would have given me greater security in the beginning, but I’m scrappy and I persisted; when that happened I found out how strong I can be. Being in Barcelona has been a dream come true for me. I’ve made friends from all over the world, learned some Spanish, and have learned a lot about myself. It’s hard to say because my time here is still not over! I’m excited to keep learning about my values, who I am and what I want in my life. The culture here is AMAZING. People really value and enjoy their lives here. Get out here and dive in headfirst (preferably into some patatas bravas).

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