Naturalization Tutor for Older Refugees
Related Program:
Refugee & Immigration Services
80 Sherman Street
Portland, ME 04101
The SOR Naturalization Tutor will work directly with refugees 60 years of age and older with varying levels of English proficiency. We focus on the unique needs of older refugees whose age and health often significantly impact their ability to prepare for the naturalization process.
Through naturalization tutoring, older refugees will become familiar with the pathway to citizenship. The Naturalization Tutor will provide support to improve their English reading, writing, listening, and speaking skills in preparation for their naturalization interview and exams. The Naturalization Tutor will provide tutoring in civics and US history at a pace comfortable to older refugees so they can successfully meet naturalization requirements.
The Naturalization Tutor will seek to increase the confidence of older refugees as adult learners and to reduce anxiety about the naturalization process, creating a safe, supportive learning environment.
Key Responsibilities:
- Gain necessary knowledge of content areas: naturalization/interview process, civics/US history, adult English for speakers of other languages.
- Teach groups of older refugees remotely on Zoom, WhatsApp, and/or potentially in the community.
- Identify resources and plan lessons that connect the course content with older students’ prior knowledge, experience, and ESOL skill levels.
- Create safe and respectful environment that promotes older adult student learning.
- Use a variety of instructional strategies to engage older adult students with course content.
- Collaborate with Services to Older Refugees Coordinator to assess needs of students and monitor progress.
Impact of Opportunity:
The SOR Naturalization Tutor will improve the quality of life of older refugees by helping them make permanent connections to their new home. The SOR Naturalization Tutor will embody the CCM core value of “hospitality” by “welcoming the most vulnerable and in need to an environment of dignity, safety, warmth and a sense of being home.” The efforts of the SOR Naturalization Tutor will help older refugees meet naturalization requirements to become fellow US citizens.
Qualifications & Skills Required:
- Ability to approach cultural & age differences humbly from a place of learning.
- Commitment to ongoing self-reflection to examine privilege and prejudices.
- Willingness to learn from older refugees and promote respect.
- Ability to build relationships and establish trust.
- Patience, flexibility, and dependability.
- Outgoing with excellent communication skills. Language skills helpful.
- Strong organizational, computer & writing skills.
- Experience and/or strong interest in working with elders from different cultural backgrounds.
- Willingness to teach group remotely, experience with Zoom and WhatsApp preferred
- Ability to teach from USCIS curricula and align three content areas: English, the naturalization application, and US civics. Prior teaching experience preferred.
Training Offered:
- Catholic Charities Maine Volunteer Orientation video series
- Ongoing RIS program/department orientation with various staff
- Weekly supervision with Services to Older Refugees Coordinator
- Webinars & courses from Cultural Orientation Resource Exchange, Switchboard, Tri-State Learning Collaborative on Aging and more.
- USCIS teacher training as available
Time Commitment & Schedule: 2 hours per week for 12 months, Monday-Friday, 8:30am-4:30pm
Benefits:
- An increased appreciation for the rights & responsibilities of your own US citizenship.
- Deepening of your knowledge of US history and civics.
- Exposure to new cultures.
- Learn how to use an interpreter effectively and practice language skills.
- Learn about resiliency and the naturalization process for refugees and asylees.
Program Contact: Linca Iradukunda, iradukunda@ccmaine.org, (207) 653-2491 or [email protected]
updated March 2023
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