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Student Worker Alliance Program (SWAP)

Providing a cost-free opportunity for both students and university service workers, SWAP currently offers over 80 one on one English as a second language (ESL) classes each semester. This is accomplished through providing an intensive training to students who are interested in volunteering to instruct ESL courses. Using the Intercambio de Communidades standardized curriculum, SWAP offers volunteers four hours of intensive ESL instructor training that includes specific grammar instruction as well as a cultural element. Upon completion of this training students are matched with a university service worker from either housing and dining or custodial services. Each volunteer is matched according to his or her preference in regards to the level of English proficiency of the campus service worker they wish to instruct. SWAP then provides materials such as workbooks and listening CDs for student volunteers to use for teaching. According to availability, students and service workers establish a mutually convenient bi-weekly meeting time for ESL classes. Typically, these meetings take place in one-hour sessions, twice weekly. The subject material is catered to the vocabulary and English skills the University service worker is most interested in learning. The experience of ESL teaching and learning is meaningful for both the student volunteers as well as the service workers. English acquisition is accomplished in a one on one, informal setting that is based on the strengths and weaknesses of each individual. The experience often continues beyond a one-semester commitment for the student volunteer. Due to an overwhelmingly positive response of the program, SWAP is attempting to expand its services.

This is a closed program by request only, or for a specific predetermined audience and there is no fee to attend.