ESOL Intern: Empower Refugees English Classes

About the role:

The internship helps provide English language training to refugees and immigrants, building their speaking, reading, and writing skills. The intern assists the Adult Education Specialist in planning and delivering these classes in Richmond.

• Assist IRC staff with enrollment, coordination, and implementation of English language classes.
• Contact students to confirm their availability for classes.
• Navigate client barriers to education.
• Differentiate and scaffold instruction for students individually or in small groups.
• Communicate with local stakeholders and adult education services to connect students to appropriate classes.
• Support teachers in preparing student materials for the classes.
• Coordinate with volunteers to ensure proper coverage of adult education classes, including childcare volunteers; cover the childcare volunteer role as needed.
• Collect data to support educational initiatives and encourage student success.
• Adhere to IRC policies related to confidentiality, client privacy, and respect for clients’ varied backgrounds and experiences.
• Provide additional support as needed.

• Undergraduate or graduate level studies in education, social work, international relations, social sciences, or a related field preferred.
• Respect and awareness of global backgrounds and experiences, and a desire to help refugees adjust to life in the U.S.
• Patience, understanding, and flexibility.
• Strong organizational skills with attention to detail.
• Effective communication skills, especially in a cross‑global environment.
• Engagement in learning about the IRC’s mission, philosophy, global work, and local efforts, and willingness to adhere to IRC volunteer and workplace policies.
• Proficiency in more than one language preferred but not required.

• This position is unpaid and reports to the Adult Education Specialist.
• IRC is an Equal Opportunity Employer. IRC considers all applicants on the basis of merit without regard to race, sex, color, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, disability or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.