FREQUENTLY
ASKED
QUESTIONS
TUTORS
"WHEN DOES THE FIRST ENGLISH CLASS START?"
A: The tentative date is August 16, 2020. However, our first class(es) may begin earlier or later, depending on a variety of factors.
"Can I receive volunteering hours?"
A: Tutors and general volunteers will receive volunteering hours! We have a log provided for you to help you keep track of your hours. It can be found here.
"What if I have no experience in teaching or tutoring?"
A: That’s okay! Before you begin teaching, UCAN will host a professional development session that will cover all the basics of teaching ESL. However, teaching is a skill that is best developed by practicing, so you will learn and improve as you go!
"Will I teach alone or with another tutor?"
A: You will teach with another tutor - sometimes more, depending on the amount of students in that class - unless you are conducting a one-on-one tutoring session.
"Am I able to choose what time/day I get to tutor?"
A: Classes will be a weekly commitment. You will be able to choose your own schedule, timings, and preferred tutoring setting, private, or group. However, we cannot guarantee that you will receive your requested time or day, so please keep your options open.
"What about time zones?"
A: Our UCAN team will handle all the scheduling so you can focus on teaching. At the start of your teaching experience, we will send out reminders the day before so you do not forget. As you continue to teach and stick to a set schedule, you will begin to remember the times/days by yourself.
"What if I can’t make it to a session one day?"
A: In normal circumstances, please let us know as early as possible, the latest being 3 days in advance. However, we do understand that emergencies may occur; in that case, we ask you to notify us at least for 24 hours before the start of the class.
"Do I need to know how to speak, read, or write in another language to tutor?"
A: While that may be ideal, it is not required for tutors to know another language besides English. If you aren’t familiar with the culture/language of the students you’re teaching, we will pair you up with another tutor that does have an understanding of that culture. Or, we will give you students that have an advanced proficiency in English.
"Will we need to prepare our own lesson plans and class materials?"
A: Nope! UCAN will provide every tutor with a complete set of course material to teach off of, including lessons and homework. Each week in advance, we will send out all the necessary lesson plans and class materials in a comprehensive email. The only thing tutors may need to come up with themselves are creative methods of teaching to keep their classes fun and interactive. Of course, if you need any assistance, we will be more than happy to help out!
"can I sign up to teach more than one class per week?"
A: Yes, if availability allows. In other words, this will all depend on the amount of students and volunteers we have. If there are many more volunteers than students, we will allow you to teach once a week. However, the opportunity to teach more frequently will arise soon, as our organization grows!
students
"How will I be placed in a class?"
A: You will take a simple assessment - provided by us- and from there, you will be placed in a class with people that are around the same level in English as you. We will have three levels to begin with: beginner, intermediate, and advanced. Each of these levels will have a unique curriculum that is professionally developed.
"How will I access the classes?"
A: All of our English classes will be held through Google Classroom. You will receive a code to join the class once we officially begin! Inside the virtual classroom, you may find assignments, announcements, and other resources to enhance your English proficiency.
"What makes UCAN English lessons unique and effective?"
A: Firstly, our tutors undergo an extensive training program to ensure that you will receive the best experience possible. Also, all of our tutors are super fun and kind! Class will never be dull, as we believe interactive activities are the key to understanding the course material!
"Are you offering group classes or one-on-one tutoring?"
A: Both; we will have classes centered around a group setting of 8-10 students, however, if you prefer a private lesson, you may request to do so.
"How frequent are the classes?"
A: Our classes will be a weekly commitment, but you will be able to choose your own schedule, timings, and preferred tutoring setting, private, or group. However, we cannot guarantee that you will receive your requested time or day, so please keep your options open.
"Will I only be learning English?"
A: While our main focus is to teach English, we will incorporate cultural aspects in our lessons as well! Also, we know that classes may get boring from time to time, so we will host monthly STEM-oriented workshops! So instead of our regularly programmed class in the last week of the month, we will dedicate that time to a fun and exciting activity. We have our first one planned already, and we can’t wait for you to experience it all! If you would like to request a workshop, like computer coding or learning English slang, let us know!
"What if I can’t make it to a session one day?"
A: Under normal circumstances, please let us know as early as possible, the latest being 3 days in advance. However, we do understand that emergencies may occur; in that case, we ask you to notify us at least 12 hours before the start of the class.