Why It Matters
ENGLISH TOGETHER
Bringing People Together
English Together addresses the two-fold challenge of building community and providing opportunities for Latino workers to develop practical English-speaking skills. Workers become more confident in using English. Workers and volunteers come together breaking down barriers and building trust.
Watch Julia interact at her school
Meet Julia, a single mom with two young children
Julia has a young daughter who has severe asthma and misses school frequently. When Julia goes by the school office to pick up the homework, she often struggles to speak to the staff and cannot get what she needs for her daughter. Julia needs help with practical, everyday English.
How Volunteering as a "Practice Partner" Works
- Sign up for 10 weeks
- Prepare to serve as a "practice partner" using our materials.
- Get matched with an adult worker
- Start supporting a worker during a weekly zoom meeting.
FAQs
What if I have limited time or availability?
The time commitment needed is only around 1 hour a week for 10 weeks, and can be flexible around your schedule. If you’re not able to make that commitment, consider making a donation, which also helps support us!
What research has been done to support your methods?
The initiative is informed by usage-based theories of language acquisition, work on English for specific purposes, and the lexical approach. It also draws from our founder’s 25 years of research and writing on language learning and bilingualism in schools and communities.
When and where will I meet with my worker?
Meet with your worker in a breakout room during our weekly zoom meetings. Our staff is ready to provide support when you need it.
Questions?
Have questions, or want to learn more? Please feel free to email us at info@englishtogether.org
Why It Matters
Work-place English is critical for all workers if they are to contribute fully to the nation and to reach their fullest potential.
Interactional skills especially are indispensable for everyday living, for succeeding in the workforce, for participating in civic society, and as a gateway to economic opportunity.
What We Know:
- Many adult English learners are linguistically isolated in minority communities
- They have few opportunities to interact with fluent speakers of English
- ESL classes are over-subscribed and not designed to support the everyday communicative needs of working adults
- One-on-one practice helps learners gain the English they need everyday
Access to acquiring English skills is persistently limited for low-wage workers by a lack of resources and competing obligations.