Austin Public Library, New Immigrants Project
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About the Library
The New Immigrants Project

Volunteers are needed to serve weekly from January through December. Potential volunteers are welcome to submit an application at any time.

Talk Time is an English conversation practice program for non-native English speaking adults. It provides a safe and relaxed environment in the library for these individuals to practice English-speaking skills, with the help of volunteer facilitators.

Volunteer Responsibilities:

  • Work with fellow volunteers to facilitate conversation among non-native English speakers at the library.
  • Attend Talk Time sessions once a week from January through December. Sessions are a little over 11/2 hours in length for volunteers. Locations and times are listed below.

Volunteer Qualifications:

  • Mastery of the English language.
  • Willingness to listen more than talk.
  • Ability to elicit responses from newcomers.
  • Patience, creativity, and willingness to use a variety of methods to promote communication.
  • Sensitivity to potential differences in culture.
Schedule
Howson Saturdays 10-11 a.m. 1/5/2013-11/23/2013
except 5/25 and 8/31
Old Quarry Branch Thursdays 10:30 a.m.-12 noon. 1/12/2013-12/12/2013
except 7/4 and 11/21
St. John Saturdays 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. 9/7/2013-12/14/2013
Southeast Branch Tuesdays 3:30-4:30 p.m. 1/15/2013-12/10/2013
Terrazas Wednesdays 7-8:30 p.m. 5/7/2013-12/10/2013

Volunteer Requirements:

  • Complete an Austin Public Library Adult Volunteer Application. Please review the days and times above, and indicate your location choice on the Schedule Information portion of the application. The application is available on the Library's Volunteer Program page, in PDF (for regular mail) and Microsoft Word (for e-mail) formats.
  • Completed applications should be e-mailed to Deborah Scharven (Deborah.Scharven@austintexas.gov) or mailed to:
    Austin Public Library, Volunteer Coordinator, P.O. Box 2287, Austin, TX 78768-2287.
  • Accepted volunteers will be required to undergo a criminal background check and attend a Volunteer Training.

For more information, please contact Deborah Scharven, Volunteer Services Coordinator at (512) 974-7443 or Deborah.Scharven@austintexas.gov


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