Youth ESOL Nysa Intern

TITLE: NYSA Youth ESOL Intern
LOCATION: In-person
START DATE: 6/1/2025
DURATION: 12 weeks
POSITION REPORTS TO: Youth ESOL Instructor
DETAILS: 15-24 hours


BACKGROUND: International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to the world’s worst humanitarian crises and helps people to survive and rebuild their lives. At work in more than 40 countries and over 20 U.S. cities, the IRC provides resettlement, education, and empowerment support to refugees and displaced people. Since 1999, the IRC has developed partnerships with New York City public schools, community-based organizations and local colleges and universities to support the positive development of refugee youth and their communities in New York City.  One of the programs provided to the youth is the Newcomer Youth Summer Academy (NYSA). 


The Newcomer Youth Summer Academy (NYSA) is a six-week program that prepares newly arrived refugee youth to succeed at their grade level in the New York City public school system. Up to 130 students, from ages 5 – 21, from over 20 countries will participate in academic, creative arts, social-emotional learning, physical education, and life skills classes. Adult ESL classes will be provided to parents of students enrolled in the NYSA program. Adult ESL classes will take place Monday-Thursday, and we expect at least 20 participant parents. 


SCOPE OF WORK: We are looking for 3 ESL Interns to support our English as a New Language classrooms in the Upper School (grades 6-12) and our Parent Program.  


Responsibilities will be designated during onboarding, but we are currently looking for 1 Youth ESOL Intern and 2 Adult ESOL Interns. In this role, you will work closely with our Youth ESOL Instructor to help design and facilitate daily English classes for middle and high school students newly arrived to the U.S., as well as their parents. This internship provides an opportunity to gain hands-on experience supporting students and to learn about the refugee experience as it pertains to education and English language development for both adults and children.


Bilingual interns (Russian/English, Spanish/English) are preferred. This is a perfect role for college students interested in ESL education. 

POSITION TERM:
Pre-program Planning: Between June 1st and July 1 – Up to 25 hours of lesson and instructional planning. 
Training: July 1-3, 2024: Up to 24 hours of training 
Foundational online training modules to be completed independently ahead of synchronous staff training dates. 

Main Program: 
Youth ESOL Interns: July 8 - August 16, 2024: 3 hours of classroom support (9:00 am- 12:00 pm, or 12:00pm - 3:00pm) per day (Monday- Thursday), a total of 15 hours per week, plus 1 hour weekly for 1:1 meeting with supervisor, and 4 hours weekly additional lesson planning or lesson revision if needed. 


Adult ESOL Interns: July 8 - August 16, 2024: 2 hours of teaching (9:00 am- 11:00 am) per day (Monday- Thursday), a total of 8 hours a week, plus 1 hour weekly for 1:1 meeting with supervisor, and 6 hours weekly additional lesson planning or lesson revision if needed

RESPONSIBILITIES:  
Youth ESOL Interns:
Assist with instruction during youth classes, including providing opportunities for differentiation and scaffolding
This may include: leading activities with small groups, providing one-to-one support to students, assisting with “emotional scaffolding” (monitoring students’ affect during class), providing translation when necessary, and participating in the lesson to respond to students comments and questions
Support with material and program development 
This may include: leading parts of class and community building activities, designing and facilitating ‘mini lessons’, recommending class materials and activities to the Youth ESOL Instructor
Complete administrative/logistic tasks as needed
This may include: classroom management, sending extra study materials to students via email,  writing case notes for class, contributing to monitoring and evaluation of programs

Adult ESOL Interns:
Lesson plan and facilitate daily Parent Classes
This may include: planning for an ESL mixed English level class using interactive, learner-centered activities.   Designing lessons centered on useful phrases, terminology for parent-teacher conferences, setting a doctor’s appointment, looking for a job, and other topics related to navigating NYC life. Leading lessons and activities conducive for adult students to practice their reading, writing, listening, and speaking skills. 
Complete administrative/logistic tasks as needed
This may include: classroom management, sending extra study materials to students via email,  writing case notes for class, contributing to monitoring and evaluation of programs


All interns must: 
Complete and submit all trainings and professional development by deadline, as assigned.
Uphold and promote policies and practices necessary to create a linguistically supportive, culturally responsive, trauma-informed learning environment.
Uphold all IRC and program and child safeguarding policies and directives.
Work and communicate with IRC staff and volunteers as needed.
Complete assigned surveys and data tracking tasks, as assigned.
Complete and submit a weekly timesheet on Salesforce platform to track and codify IRC volunteer hours.
Additional related duties as assigned.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES: [Insert 3 Objectives for Interns Only]:
Interns will develop and implement various teaching strategies for supporting multilingual learners. 
Interns will gain insight into the principles of trauma-informed education, particularly how to create supportive and responsive learning environments for refugee youth.
Interns will learn strategies for engaging with and supporting the families of refugee and asylee students, particularly in the context of educational and linguistic development.


REQUIREMENTS:  
Current undergraduate or graduate student, or recent graduate 
Preference will be given to candidates pursuing degrees in Education or related fields (Experience in ESOL, ENL, ELL highly preferred)
Demonstrated experience working with refugee or immigrant students and families, excellent rapport with youth and adults of diverse backgrounds
Punctuality, excellent time management skills, and a flexible schedule.
Reliable, responsible, and dedicated to the position until the end of the Newcomer Youth Summer Academy. 
Ability to maintain confidentiality regarding client information.
Excellent organizational and leadership skills.
Strong attention to detail and ability to work with minimal supervision.
Strong intercultural communication skills with demonstrated ability to work effectively with people from other cultural backgrounds.
Fluency in written and spoken English required. Second language proficiency in relevant language highly desirable (including Arabic, Dari, Farsi, French, Fulani, Haitian Creole, Mandarin, Mandingo, Pashto, Russian, Spanish, Tigrinya, Ukrainian, Wolof)
All offers are contingent on successfully passing background and criminal history checks as required by federal and state law or by IRC policy.


WORK ENVIRONMENT:
NYSA takes place in a centrally located school (TBD) in New York City.  All applicants must be based in the New York City area for the entirety of the Academy and able to attend 4 days a week (2-3 hours per day) in person.