Community Engagement

Co-Curricular Engagement

America Reads Challenge

I have participated for 2 years as a tutor in the America Reads Challenge Program. Originating from the Clinton administration in 1996, the goal is to work with elementary students from kindergarten to third grade and give them extra after-school help with reading.

I have enjoyed going weekly to Colfax Elementary in the Squirrel Hill neighborhood of Pittsburgh and meeting with students to read books, play games, and help with homework. My experience building individualized lesson plans for each student has helped me build up my repertoire of teaching techniques and games.

Jumpstart

During the summer of 2018, I was able to be a Jumpstart Corps member. Jumpstart is a national early literacy program focusing on providing assistance to students in under-resourced communities to give them a boost before they go to kindergarten.

I was lucky enough to be assigned to MUSA Little Lambs, a non-profit in the Homestead neighborhood of Pittsburgh. Over the summer I got to experience the realities of lesson-planning and classroom management, and build relationships with my students.

https://www.jstart.org/

Teaching English as a Second Language

ESL Conversation Group

For three years (2015-2018) I participated in an English Conversation Group that provided a friendly environment for ESL learners in Pittsburgh to practice casual conversation. Over time I transitioned from just one of the native English speaking helpers to the one planning the week’s topic and facilitating the discussions.

Gaining the perspective of international students coming to the U.S. for the first time made me both more sympathetic to the obstacles they faced, but prepared me for my own experience living in another country. In this group I formed important friendships and gained leadership and public speaking skills that helped me in other areas of my studies.

English Language Institute Conversation Partner

Through University of Pittsburgh’s ELI, I was able to meet Korean students for a language partner program. Getting to know people who speak the language I’m learning helped my studies not only because my conversational skills improved, but I was able to better understand the cultural context the Korean language is situated in and learn expressions and words not taught in class.

It was also rewarding being able to help them practice their English, and be a resource for them when an unexpected or strange part of American life caused confusion.

Literacy Pittsburgh Tutor

During my last undergraduate year, I served as a volunteer tutor for Literacy Pittsburgh, an organization that works to improve adult literacy and ESL. I was happy to work with a student working as a visiting scholar from China, and getting to know him over the year through our biweekly lessons was one of my favorite ways to learn about his life and culture, and learn how to effectively explain English grammar and conversational practices.

https://www.literacypittsburgh.org/

Abigail Neer

Global Studies Certificate