How to Start a Nonprofit ESL Program
If you have a passion for helping people, starting a nonprofit ESL (English as a second language) program can be a great way to get involved in your community. You can begin teaching ESL by locating the appropriate space for your classes, advertising your services and composing effective lesson plans.
- Find a space for your nonprofit ESL classes. You don’t have to rent an expensive commercial space to get started. You just need to find an appropriate space that can serve as a learning environment. One of the best places to hold ESL classes is at your local library. Contact the head librarian to find out more information about the possibility of tutoring a group of people at the library on a regular basis. You can also contact high schools in your area to find out whether you can teach nonprofit ESL classes on campus in the evenings.
- Advertise your nonprofit ESL program. Once you have a schedule in mind and a space for teaching your ESL classes, you should begin advertising your services. Put up fliers around your neighborhood and at local grocery stores. Post online classified advertisements, and use social media to spread the word about your new program. List accurate contact information on all of your advertisements, and ask people to let you know if they plan to attend.
- Write up lesson plans. Create a teaching outline that you can use in the classroom. Include a few exercises that you can do with your students. Keep in mind that your first lesson should be simple and stress-free because learning a new language is challenging and intimidating. Your lessons should slowly get more difficult as time goes on.