|
 |
Non-profit work so you can practice | ||
Share with:
| ||
 Language Learning Forum : Immersion, Schools & Certificates |  | |
| FrenchLanguage Senior Member Germany Joined 5738 days ago 122 posts - 135 votes  | Message 1 of 8 24 April 2010 at 7:45am | IP Logged |
|
Im about to contact an organization that helps refugees in Germany with medical issues (for free). It says they can use any kind of help and quite a few of the immigrants/refugees here are from Africa. I hope that'll help me practice French on a regular basis (Ill do it even if it wont, but you get the idea).
Anyone ever considered doing something like that? 1 person has voted this message useful | |
 LauraM Pro Member United States Joined 5354 days ago 77 posts - 97 votes Studies: German Personal Language Map | Message 2 of 8 24 April 2010 at 8:50am | IP Logged |
|
That is certainly thinking outside the box and a great motivating tool! Since I like the idea of giving, it certainly
would be an added benefit if you were able to gain some language experience along the way! Unfortunately/Fortunately I don't think I'll be finding German refugees here to practice on, LOL Good luck; I'd love to hear how it goes! 1 person has voted this message useful | |
| andee Tetraglot Senior Member Japan Joined 7079 days ago 681 posts - 724 votes 3 sounds Speaks: English*, German, Korean, French | Message 3 of 8 24 April 2010 at 12:57pm | IP Logged |
|
My wife and I try to volunteer in Korea for a few hours a week at an orhpanage (when we're there). Not because of the language since she's Korean, but it certainly helps my language skills. I did try to get into volunteer English teaching for refugees here in Australia but there was a little too much red tape to wade through, so bang went that idea unfortunately.
I'd recommend it to people though. It's not only rewarding personally through helping others in need, and helpful with your language development, but if you're a professional in the field you volunteer in it's good for your professional development as well. 1 person has voted this message useful | |
| sik0fewl Newbie Canada Joined 5496 days ago 31 posts - 43 votes Speaks: English* Studies: French | Message 4 of 8 24 April 2010 at 9:12pm | IP Logged |
|
Something like this might be ideal: http://www.wwoof.org/
In a nutshell, you volunteer to work on an organic farm. You don't get paid, but you are provided room and board. The best part is you can go pretty much anywhere in the world. I've never done it, but it seems like a very interesting program. 1 person has voted this message useful | |
| FrenchLanguage Senior Member Germany Joined 5738 days ago 122 posts - 135 votes | Message 5 of 8 25 April 2010 at 7:45am | IP Logged |
|
I see this has been moved to the living abroad forum - but thats not what I meant..I meant right where you live.
I sort of had this idea after high school already (and never ended up finding a way to do it), but now that I wanted to do non-profit work, I came across the refugee cause, and realized "hey, plenty of African refugees..who speak French", so it might overlap. @LauraM: You dont happen to live in an area with lots of tourists? I once worked briefly (web stuff) with a personal injury attorney..in Las Vegas. I bet if you live in Las Vegas, NYC, London,... you might find something similar (though it wont be refugees). Then again you might find better ways to meet native speakers 1 person has voted this message useful | |
| Nocturne Diglot Groupie Italy Joined 6150 days ago 67 posts - 70 votes Speaks: Italian*, EnglishB2 Studies: Korean, Swedish | Message 6 of 8 25 April 2010 at 4:14pm | IP Logged |
|
Actually, that's exactly what I do - once a week, I spend a few hours doing volunteer work for this non-profit organization which helps refugees and immigrants with practical information, legal/medical assistance and so on. I don't exactly do it for the language factor, but I certainly do find myself having to speak in English or having to listen to people speaking French very often, so I'd say it's certainly a good way to practice if you're so inclined. Edited by Nocturne on 25 April 2010 at 4:15pm 1 person has voted this message useful | |
| heartnsoul Triglot Groupie United States Joined 5723 days ago 45 posts - 47 votes Speaks: Mandarin, English*, Spanish Studies: Italian, German, Greek | Message 7 of 8 27 April 2010 at 5:27am | IP Logged |
|
I just recently started doing this, at a local medical clinic that treats uninsured patients free of charge. We get a lot of immigrant families be they from Latin America or the Middle East, India, etc. so it provides some great volunteer opportunities for those who are interested in languages. I personally am on the path to be a translator/interpreter, so volunteering here every week has helped me so much and is giving me the experience I need to build my credibility and skills. At the same time, there is a huge need for people who know languages to volunteer their time, so it is a win-win for both sides. Interpreting is very taxing and very mentally intense but it is also incredibly rewarding, and even more so when you are helping others - a combination of two of my favorite things. :)
1 person has voted this message useful | |
| FrenchLanguage Senior Member Germany Joined 5738 days ago 122 posts - 135 votes | Message 8 of 8 27 April 2010 at 4:52pm | IP Logged |
|
I want to do this for the helping-others-factor, too actually...am not that keen on languages anymore to be honest (I just use french enough to maintain it), but was thinking "hey this mgiht actually overlap very well, so should suggest it to others (and do it myself even more ;))".
Thanks guys! I need to go there (or to other institituions tomorrow), unfortunately they didnt reply to my e-mail (though on their website they're asking for volunteers lol) 1 person has voted this message useful |
If you wish to post a reply to this topic you must first login. If you are not already registered you must first register
|  | 
Printable version
|
| Copyright 2024 FX Micheloud - All rights reserved No part of this website may be copied by any means without my written authorization. |
