Teacher’s Aide for Citizenship Classes (Online)

Fall trimester, 2023: September 18 – December 13

All classes and trainings are via Zoom 

Mission and Objective

Our Adult Education Program offers Citizenship classes that integrate civics knowledge with ESL teaching practices in an inclusive environment that prepares students to pass both a citizenship exam and the United States Citizenship & Immigration Services (USCIS) interview process. U.S. citizenship provides greater security and opportunities for students and is a crucial step in helping eligible students break the generational cycle of poverty. Citizenship allows students the right to work, the right to vote, the ability to sponsor family members, access to public benefits, and provides safety from deportation. 

Through the lens of empowering the whole person, the Adult Education program complements the wraparound services Canal Alliance provides so that very low-income, adult immigrants can improve their access to education, employment and entrepreneurial opportunities. 

Please note: Volunteers must be at least 18 years of age.

Program dates and class times

• Fall 2023 trimester dates: September 18 – December 13
• Aides assist in one class session per week (either Monday or Wednesday) from 5:45 to 7:45 pm Pacific Time
• Minimum volunteer commitment is one 13-week trimester (or if you start partway through, then until the end of the trimester)

Required Onboarding and Training for NEW Volunteers

1. Sign volunteering paperwork
2. Watch two orientation videos and complete the corresponding quizzes:
   1. Canal Alliance New Volunteer Orientation
   2. Orientation to the Adult Education Program
3. Attend training on Classroom Techniques for Volunteers, Wednesday, September 13 from 7:30 to 9:00 pm via Zoom
4. Attend Training for Citizenship Volunteers on Thursday, September 14 from 6:30 – 8:00 pm via Zoom

Required Onboarding and Training for RETURNING Volunteers

1. Sign 2023-24 Volunteer Agreement
2. Attend Naturalization training on Thursday, September 14 from 6:30 – 8:00 pm via Zoom
3. If the last time you volunteered was Fall 2022 or earlier:
   1. watch the Adult Education orientation video and take a brief quiz
   2. attend the Classroom Techniques training via Zoom on Wednesday, September 13 from 7:30 to 9:00 pm via Zoom

Aide Responsibilities

• Read and be familiar with content of relevant textbook chapter(s) before class
• Help the teacher establish the virtual classroom as a safe place and provide a nurturing, supportive, and positive learning environment with high expectations for students
• Build positive, respectful relationships with students
• Assist the teacher with management of the online class, if requested: write in the chat, mute students, take attendance, etc. 
• In breakout rooms:
  • lead activities in teacher’s lesson plan; monitor and assist students (per teacher’s instructions)
  • Using Zoom, share your screen, annotate shared documents, and use the chat
• Help to ensure all students are participating 
• Monitor class and advise teacher of students who are struggling, or topics that need clarification

• Respect and follow program policies and teacher’s instructions
• Respond promptly to communications from teacher, team, and Adult Education staff

• Be culturally responsive and culturally humble in the classroom
• Honor trimester-long volunteer commitment  
• Important: Citizenship aides MUST NOT offer any legal advice whatsoever to students, whether it has to do with citizenship or any other matter

Skills and Attributes

• Friendly, outgoing and flexible; able to bring energy to the classroom
• Patient and attentive with students
• Enjoy interacting with people of all ages and ethnicities
• Able to build positive and respectful relationships with students, teachers and Adult Education staff
• Comfortable working with people of varied cultural and socio-economic backgrounds
• Proactive and able to work with minimal direction
• Willing to independently learn about and troubleshoot technical issues 
• Knowledge of civics content (training will be provided)
• Knowledge of Spanish helpful but not required

Requirements

• Age 18 or above
• Alignment with Canal Alliance’s mission and Adult Education program goals
• Commitment to assist in one Citizenship class per week plus attend pre-class team meeting 
• Commitment to assist for at least one trimester, with minimal absences, and attempt to find own substitute from within team when necessary
• Completion of onboarding and training listed above
• Reliable internet and access to a computer with a camera 
• Commitment to cultural responsiveness and cultural humility
• Full proficiency in English (native speaker or near-native ability, ILR Level 4 or above)
• Ability to use the tech tools needed for class (some training provided): Must be able to download and navigate the digital textbook, access documents provided by the teacher (pdfs, Word documents, videos); share those documents on Zoom via screen share (including video and sound); annotate shared documents; use the chat function 

WE ARE NOT CURRENTLY RECRUITING FOR THIS VOLUNTEER POSITION