The International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to the world's worst humanitarian crises, helping to restore health, safety, education, economic wellbeing, and power to people devastated by conflict and disaster. Founded in 1933 at the call of Albert Einstein, the IRC is one of the world's largest international humanitarian non-governmental organizations (INGO), at work in more than 40 countries and 29 U.S. cities helping people to survive, reclaim control of their future and strengthen their communities. A force for humanity, IRC employees deliver lasting impact by restoring safety, dignity and hope to millions. If you're a solutions-driven, passionate change-maker, come join us in positively impacting the lives of millions of people world-wide for a better future.

TITLE: Adult ESL Instruction Intern - Unpaid LOCATION: IRC Denver Office and in the Community  COMMITMENT: 15-20 Hours per week, 3-month minimum START DATE: Ongoing.

INTERNSHIP OVERVIEW: The intern will play a crucial role in supporting a community-based English as a Second Language (ESL) program with adult students at varying levels of English proficiencies including preliterate beginners. The classes aim to empower students by gaining the literacy, language, and confidence needed to navigate everyday life in the US. Using engaging and student-centered lessons, the intern will provide classroom instruction, supervise volunteer instructors, and tutors, and assist with administrative tasks. The intern will be a key collaborator with IRC staff to ensure clients’ immediate educational needs are met. 
RESPONSIBILITIES: 
Facilitate group instruction using provided curriculum for refugee and asylee clients 
Assist in developing and implementing multi-level comprehension and literacy activities. 
Support program activities by researching new curriculum content and preparing educational materials as requested by program lead 
Design customized lesson plans based on provided curriculum to meet students’ learning needs 
Promote core competencies of English language skills needed to obtain and retain employment and achieve self-sufficiency 
Create a welcoming environment that fosters community and learning among program participants while interacting with diverse population 
Communicate with IRC staff to evaluate student progress, define weekly lesson objectives and summarize student learning outcomes 
Assist with class preparation, record attendance, and submit teacher log after each class. 
Conduct outreach to students to ensure attendance and retention 
Facilitate and support technology skills to low digital literacy skills students to enhance access to independent study tools 

LEARNING OBJECTIVES:  
The intern will practice effectively managing a classroom and teaching English to students of various backgrounds and English language levels.  
The intern will gain experience working with adult learners from a variety of backgrounds, including those with limited formal education and/or literacy skills. 
The intern will learn to work as a team to effectively prepare and execute lessons and activities.  
The intern will gain experience managing volunteers. 

Minimum Qualifications:

REQUIREMENTS:

Ability to adapt to different learning skills and environments, has a passion for education 
Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, and sound judgment 
Excellent classroom management skills and confidence facilitating groups 
An interest in or experience with teaching generally and teaching ESL specifically 
TESOL or TEFL certificate or working towards receiving TESOL/TEFL is preferred 
Fluent in spoken and written English. 

Standard of Professional Conduct:The IRC and the IRC workers must adhere to the values and principles outlined in the IRC Way – our Code of Conduct. These are Integrity, Service, Accountability, and Equality.