San Marcos Elementary, Community School Mentor Opportunity: Adult ESLAt — San Marcos Unified School District
Support adult learners at San Marcos Elementary, a local community school dedicated to multigenerational growth. We are seeking CSUSM students to serve as mentors and tutors for our evening Adult ESL classes.You’ll work with an inspiring, multigenerational group of beginner to intermediate learners. By assisting 1-on-1 or in small groups, you will facilitate conversations and help with reading and writing practice, providing students the confidence they need to master English. A mix of whole-group instruction and intimate conversation circles. Since 90% of students are native Spanish speakers, bilingual mentors are a major plus! This is a fantastic way to fulfill service hours while making a tangible difference in the San Marcos community.
By participating in this service-learning partnership at San Marcos Elementary, CSUSM students will transition from tutors to collaborators. This experience goes beyond simple language instruction, offering a deep dive into community engagement and adult education. Students will move beyond a "deficit model" of learning to identify and celebrate the Cultural Wealth of our adult learners. You will learn to integrate students' diverse life experiences, linguistic backgrounds, and cultural histories into the curriculum, viewing their heritage as a primary asset for learning. Working with multigenerational learners requires specific strategies. You will gain hands-on experience in: adult engagement and scaffolded instruction. Through specific classroom projects, you will develop skills in guiding others through: 1. Creative Expression: Facilitating artwork projects that reflect culture and identity. 2. Digital Literacy: Helping students navigate digital presentation tools to tell their stories. 3. Public Speaking: Coaching adults to overcome anxiety and find their voice in a second language. For bilingual mentors especially, you will refine your ability to bridge linguistic gaps, practicing "translanguaging" techniques that honor the students’ first language while building their second.
Training & Support Provided We ensure all mentors are fully prepared through a structured onboarding process: Initial Orientation: A 45-minute session with Adelita Gonzales (Community Schools Coordinator) and the ESL teaching team. Hands-On Onboarding: For your first two sessions, arrive 15 minutes early for a briefing and receive active mentorship from a staff partner during class. Daily Reflection: Each class concludes with a 10-minute debrief to provide feedback, answer questions, and ensure consistency.
Please provide any other languages you speak. **Days and times for this opportunity are in the evening and following the SMUSD school calendar: Monday, Tuesday and Wednesdays 5:00 pm - 7:30 pm **
| Hours | Duration |
|---|---|
| 5 | hours per week |