English Overseas

The English Overseas project offers volunteers a unique weekly virtual one-on-one intergenerational cross-cultural volunteering opportunity. Older adult volunteers are matched with a high school student in Jerusalem or Beit She'an to help them practice their conversational English to prepare for their required end-of-high school English exam. This project is a partnership between the Wechsler Center for Modern Aging at the Marlene Meyerson JCC Manhattan and the Municipalities of Jerusalem and Beit She'an.

Conversations between volunteers and students take place weekly using Zoom, WhatsApp, or another video platform chosen by the volunteer-student pair, and are intended to last for 20-30 minutes each week, starting sometime in October 2024 (after the Jewish holidays) through the end of May 2025.

Volunteers are provided with resources to help them in their weekly conversations (if needed) and are encouraged to speak on whatever topic the student is most interested in discussing.

There are regular opportunities for the volunteers to gather together (over Zoom and in-person), to share tips and best practices, address concerns, learn more about Israel, and to form a community. Volunteers must have some ability to use a video technology platform, be able to make a commitment over the school term and be comfortable interacting with a teenager.

Volunteers are also invited to travel to Israel with us this spring! This special mission is designed for past, current, and future English Overseas volunteers and others from our community. Tentative dates are Mon, Mar 24–Thu, Apr 3, 2025.

To express interest in becoming an English Overseas volunteer, please complete this Google Form. You can also contact Rabbi Brian Fink at bfink@mmjccm.org if you have any questions.

Volunteer Resources

1. English Overseas Program Information/Materials

• English Overseas (EOS) Volunteer Manual 2022-2023
• English Overseas Communication and Accountability Guidelines 2022-2023
• COBE Preparation Workbook
• WhatsApp Tutorial
• Elements of the Bagrut

2. English Overseas Print Tools/Resources & Training Tips

• Approaches for Shy or Limited-English Students
• Initial Discussion Questions
• Riddles / Jokes / Idioms
• Additional Conversation Topics
• Getting Students to Talk in English - A Practical Guide by Penny Ur
• Conversation Cards
   

3. English Overseas Video Resources & Training Tips

• Using Video Clips in Your Conversations
• Practice Video Clips for the Bagrut
• David Yellin's Video Clips for Speaking Class
• Practice Clips with Listening - Shoshi Harris

4. Recordings from English Overseas Trainings and Presentations

• Coming Soon!